PIR-30143: The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation

School of Politics, International Relations & Philosophy

PIR-30143

The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation

Co-ordinator:

Mr Naveed Sheikh Room: CBB2.019, Tel:33400

Teaching Team:

Mrs Paula Hughes, Mrs Julie Street, Mr Naveed Sheikh, Miss Laura Barcroft, Mrs Diane Mason

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

Credits:

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

Barred Combinations

N/A

Prerequisites

N/A

Description

This module aims to acquaint students with the domestic politics, foreign policies, and international relations of the Middle East region, stretching from Morocco in the West to Iran in the east. Students will be encouraged to develop a critical awareness of the historical, social, political and geopolitical transformations of Middle Eastern states by (a) acquiring knowledge of important actors and events in the region, and by (b) developing a critical understanding of the key scholarly and popular debates about domestic and international politics of regional states. Material covered will include the historical formation of the state system in the Middle East region; the role of collective identities and political ideologies in the politics of the region; the Cold War period and its impact on Middle East politics; Civil Wars in the Middle East and North Africa, the Arab-Israeli Wars; the Palestinians and the Peace Process; Iraq's Wars and Reconstruction; and American Middle East policy.

Aims

This module aims to deliver a broad-based introduction to the history, politics and international relations of the modern Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Students will gain familiarity with key facts in the political history, geography, and demography of the MENA region, attain knowledge about the different political and ethnic groupings in parts of the Middle East, together with an understanding of their key ideologies and social identities. In particular, the module aims to facilitate critical evaluations of the causes, contexts and manifestations of political conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Explain the key developments in the political history, geography, and demography of the Middle East region since 1900.
will be achieved by assessments: 1,2, 3
Evaluate the constitution of the different political and ethnic groupings in parts of the Middle East, together with their respective ideologies and social identities. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Critically evaluate key debates in the region as well as about the region, the latter in academic as well as policy circles. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Analyse causes, contexts and manifestations of political conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Engage effectively in verbal discussions and formulate critical ideas in spoken discourse about the politics and international relations of the region will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

seminars: 10 x 2-hour seminars (20 hours)
preparation for seminars: 10 x 4 hours (40 hours)
preparation for presentations: 2 x 5 hours (10 hours)
researching and compiling poster: (30 hours)
researching and writing essay: (50 hours)

Description of Module Assessment

01: Oral Presentation weighted 20%

Oral Presentation on a set seminar question and general contribution to class discussions
Two oral presentations per student, relating to one of the set seminar questions. A feedback sheet is filled for each presentation.

02: Essay weighted 50%

A 2,500 word essay on a set essay question
A 2,500-word essay on a set essay question from a list provided in the module guide.

03: Group Project weighted 30%

A 3,000 word group project on a country of the Middle East
Students will in small groups of 3-4 be asked to write a policy review of a chosen country of the Middle East, analysing its diplomacy and foreign policy in relation to one of the issue areas explored in the module.

Version: (1.05A) Created: 01/Oct/2013

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