International History of the Middle East and North Africa 1918-1995

Code

HIST2050

School

History

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

The module aims to provide students with a sound knowledge of key developments in the Middle East and North Africa between the collapse of the Ottoman empire and the emergence of a politicised version of Islam. Students should familiarise themselves with the key historical debates surrounding, for example, the relative impact of regional and international factors and begin to work with some primary documentary material relating to political and diplomatic developments. They will also be encouraged to use primary source material from the region and to consider the role which historical events have played in framing current problems in the Middle East and North Africa.
The module focuses primarily on political and diplomatic history of the region including the creation of the modern state system after World War I, the continuing influence of western imperialism and the impact of the Cold War. However, broader themes are also considered, in particular the role of competing ideologies in the region and the impact which external actors have had in shaping the modern politics of the region.

Target Students

Students must have taken HIST1001 or HIST1002. Also available to exchange students hosted by the Department of History.

Classes

• One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks

Assessment

• 50% Coursework 1: Piece of individually assessed coursework
• 50% Coursework 2: Piece of individually assessed coursework

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding 
By the end of the module students should be able to:
·    explain and interpret the key events in Middle East and North Africa politics in the period under discussion;
·    show an understanding of the factors which influenced this process including the impact of specific ideologies;
·    analyse the significance of the political and diplomatic history of the region and the connections between them.

Intellectual skills.
By the end of the module students should be able to:
·    think critically and imaginatively about the subject matter;
·    identify and address key problems in the modern political history of the Middle East and North Africa;
·    make use of both diplomatic and political histories of the region in constructing explanations of key developments;
·    construct coherent and independent historical arguments of their own.

Professional/practical skills. The module will develop students ‘ability:
·    to select, sift and synthesise information from numerous secondary and some primary sources;
·    to identify and compare key arguments in those materials;
·    Plan, research and write a sustained piece of historical research;
·    Use IT to access historical sources and information and to complete historical assignments.

Transferable skills.
The module will also develop students’ability:
·    to manage a large and disparate body of information;
·    to express themselves clearly, coherently and fluently in writing essays;
·    Give an effective oral presentation in support of an argument;
·    to work and learn actively with others;
·    to manage and take responsibility for their own learning;
·    to respect the views of others;
·    to use IT to word process their assessed essay.

Conveners

• Dr Tarik Oumazzane