Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
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 conflicts in parts of the Middle East since approximately 1920, together with an understanding of the key ideologies, alignments and organisations in the Middle East. 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.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/pir-20094/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
gain a broad-based insight into the history of the Middle East since the collapse of the Ottoman empire until the contemporary period: 1obtain a critical and interdisciplinary appreciation of a variety of ways in which the regional and international politics of the Middle East and North Africa can be analysed: 1,2obtain a literature-based understanding of the central aspects of the geopolitics, diplomacy, civil conflicts and ideological contests across the Middle East: 1,2be able to critically evaluate key debates about the international politics of the Middle East region, among the public as well as in academic and policy circles: 1,2analyse causes, contexts and manifestations of political conflict (including, but not limited to, wars) in the Middle East and North Africa: 1,2
lectures: 10 x 1-hour lectures (10 hours)tutorials: 10 x 1-hour tutorials (10 hours)preparation for tutorials: (40 hours)researching and compiling poster: (30 hours)researching and writing essay: (60 hours)
Description of Module Assessment
1: Essay weighted 75%A 1,650-word essay on a set essay questionA 1,650-word essay on a set essay question from a list provided in the module guide.
2: Poster Presentation weighted 25%A 350 word posterStudents will produce an A3-sized poster that engages with one of the set problems studied in this module. The word length is 350 words (plus illustrations).