IR4516: ARAB-ISRAELI RELATIONS (2016-2017)

The course will scrutinise the historical development, political characteristics and strategic condition of the most enduring and emotive conflict in the international system. The topics to be considered include the political impasse since 2003, the origins of the conflict, the wars and peace plans between 1948 and 1979, the nature and policies of the PLO and Hamas, the Peace Process 1993 - 2003, US - Israeli relations, the EU and the dispute, the 'peace partners': Egypt and Jordan, the 'rejectionist front': Syria and Iran, and prospects for the resolution of the conflict.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

View IR4516 Timetable

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1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%); one 'in-class 1,500 word, approximately one and a half-hour, essay' (20%); and 1 'team presentation' (20%). Print-outs of the team presentation power-points (normally about 20 pages) together with the tutor assessment sheets will be sent to the external examiner in the package including examinations scripts and the 'in-class essay' scripts.

'Primary respondent teams' to each of the class 'team presentations' will be given non-assessed feedback on the quality of the insight and detail of their responses. The team presentations form part of the course summative assessment. However, for each team presentation there is a separate, 'primary respondent team'. While all students deliver a formal, detailed and sourced presentation (summative assessment), they are also required, in due course, on a different topic, to be a 'primary respondent'(ie. providing the first critique and starting class discussion) to another student's formal presentation. There will be commentary by the tutor on the strengths and weaknesses of all students' 'primary responses'. This will be formative in nature and the students' 'primary responses' will not be given CGS grades.

Summative assessment: Written feedback on a tailored assessment document will be delivered within two weeks of the 'in-class ' essay, which takes place midway through the course. The 'team presentation' materials are available via MyAberdeen to the whole class the day before the delivery of the presentations. By the time of the class following any presentation, written feedback on a tailored assessment document will be returned to each member of the presentation team.

None.