Politics and International Relations of the Middle East
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHIR3016 | Politics and International Relations | 3 | 20 | Spring Malaysia |
- Code
- PHIR3016
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring Malaysia
Summary
The module provides students with an introduction to the politics and international relations of the contemporary Middle East. It examines the theories associated with state formation, state-society relations and international relations and applies them empirically to the case of the Middle East region. Through the module students will learn about the various internal and external factors that have contributed to the formation of the modern state, society and international relations of the Middle East, with attention given to the development of the current state system in the region and the role of various social and political actors (both within and outside the region, including former European colonial powers, the US and Soviet Union), ideological currents (e.g. nationalism, socialism, Zionism, political Islam) and economic resources (energy resources and the resulting rentierism). By taking this module, students will be able to take more specialised study either of the region as a whole or in part.
Target Students
Arts and Social Science students Available to JYA/Erasmus students. Not available in session.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 12 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 15% Coursework 1: 500 word reading summary
- 30% Coursework 2 (essay): 1 x 2000 word essay
- 15% Participation: 1 x 10 minute presentation
- 40% Exam 1 (1-hour): 1 hour examination
Educational Aims
Education Aims:- To familiarise students with the history, key concepts and perspectives relating to the development of the politics and international relations of the Middle East- To familiarise students with the individual history and politics of the following countries and issues: Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the role and influence of external powers, political Islam, the political economy of the Middle East- To enable students to critically engage with the principal literature associated with the study of the politics and international relations of the Middle East and in relation to more general concepts and theories in political science and international relationsLearning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history, politics and international relations of the Middle East
- Account for and explain the different processes of state formation, the theories associated with the relationship between state, society and economics and international relations with regard to the region
- Understand the political experience of the region and how it relates to the study of politics and international relations more generally
2. Intellectual skills
- Ability to think about the connection between theory and empirical analysis in a reflective and critical way and to assess a variety of approaches and methods for the study of problems in politics (assessed through three reflective 250 word reading assignments
3. Professional/Practical Skills
- Evidence gathering and evaluation
- Writing skills under different conditions (assesse through three reflective reading assignments, an exam and a longer, theoretically informed, well-researched and well-argued essay)
- Independent learning
4. Transferable (key) skills
- The capacity to engage in a structured and well informed discussion about complex questions (to be assessed through a classroom presentation and discussion in seminars)
- The ability to write in a structured and concise way under time pressure (to be assessed in the exam)
- The skill to write a thought through well argued longer piece of work (to be assessed through the coursework essay)
- The ability to produce relevant material in a timely manner (through previously agreed dates for classroom presentations and deadlines for completing reading assignments and coursework)
- IT skills to carry out research and evaluate its credibility for supporting or refuting the perspectives explored in the module