School of Politics, International Relations & Philosophy  
 
 
PIR-30141 The Other Middle East: Powers, Peoples and Politics  
Co-ordinator: Mr Naveed Sheikh    Room: CBB2.019, Tel:33400  
Teaching Team: Mrs Paula  Hughes, Mrs Julie  Street, Miss Laura  Barcroft, Mrs Diane  Mason  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
International Relations Dual Honours (Level 3)
International Relations Major (Level 3)
International Relations Minor (Level 3)
International Relations Single Honours (Level 3)
Politics Dual Honours (Level 3)
Politics Major (Level 3)
Politics Minor (Level 3)
Politics Single Honours (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Barred Combinations
N/A

Prerequisites
N/A

Description

The present module aims to develop a critical understanding of the public and scholarly debates about the political actors, ideologies, and processes that shape politics and international relations of the contemporary Middle East. Students will be expected to evaluate and situate ideas (including their own) into these debates and present coherent and well-studied arguments in seminars as well as in assignments. Seminar topics will include: The political challenges of the non-Arab Middle East (Turkey, Israel, and Iran); the role and status of ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East; religious revivalism and identity politics; democratization and political reform; and gender and human rights in the region.



Aims
This module aims at advancing students knowledge of the geography, history, demography, politics and international relations of the Middle East region, in particular the non-Arab Middle East. Particular emphasis will be given to the attainment of systematic knowledge and critical understanding of the changing historical, social, political conditions of non-state actors in the region. The different political, ethnic, and religious groupings in parts of the Middle East will be explored with a view to obtain a critical understanding of their identities, grievances and political status. Finally, political institutions will be subjected to scrutiny and human and gender rights perspectives applied to the region.
Intended Learning Outcomes
critically evaluate key developments in the political geography, history, sociology, demography, domestic politics and international relations of the Middle East region.
will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
systematically and comparatively analyse the changing historical, social, political conditions of Middle East states, in particular non-Arab states, as well as non-state actors in the region. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
analyse the different political, ethnic, and religious minority groupings in parts of the Middle East. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
evaluate advanced debates surrounding the nature of civil society, domestic politics and international relations in the larger Middle East region. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
analyse causes, contexts and manifestations of key political problems in the Middle East, including those related to political system, political representation, human rights abuses, security problems, and economic development. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
engage with and formulate critical ideas about the politics and international relations of the region, in writing as well as in spoken discourse. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Study hours
seminars: 10 x 2-hour seminars (20 hours)
preparation for seminars: 10 x 4 hours (40 hours)
preparation for presentations: 2 x 4 hours (8 hours)
researching and writing essay: (40 hours)
preparing for exam: (40 hours)
sitting exam: (2 hours)
Description of Module Assessment
01: Seminar weighted 15%
Oral Presentation Mark
The Oral Presentation mark is based on a student presentation that seeks to answer a set seminar question from the module guide.
02: Essay weighted 45%
A 2500-words essay
Essay questions are set by the tutor, supported by reading lists in the module guide; students must choose one on which to write a 2500-word essay.
03: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 40%
2 hour unseen examination
A two-hour unseen exam in which students are to answer two questions out of a set of six.
Version: (1.05A) Created: 01/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.