DEMOCRATIZATION AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
- Course
- INRE560 - DEMOCRATIZATION AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
- Department
- International Relations - English - Master
- Course Type
- Course
- Status
- Required
- Language
- English
- Credit
- 3
- ECTS
- 0
- T+P+L
- 3 + 0 + 0
- Course Coordinator(s)
- -
- Prerequisite
- -
- Keywords
- -
Course Description
This course is aimed to examine and explore the processes of democratization and civil society movements in the Middle East with an analytical and critical methodology. Specifically, socio-cultural, economic, and political structures and the interplay of the factors and actors within these structures will be the main areas throughout the discussions in this graduate course. In addition, ideological, religious and social dimensions of the democratization and political liberalization processes of the Middle Eastern region will be analyzed and compared with specific countries and cases.
DEMOCRATIZATION AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Evaluation Tools (Active Term)
No evaluation items have been defined.
Course outcomes
- 01 to re-‐examine thoroughly, dialectically and critically most of the factors, both international and domestic, that have shaped and continue to shape politics in the Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) region and especially democratic political change
- 02 to acquaint students with the main theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of world politics with a focus on the role that civil society plays in the MENA region as it relates to the international system.
- 03 to be prepared to analyze the persistent issues that revolve around economic liberalization as well the process of political democratization in relation of the MENA with external powers.
- 04 a fundamental understanding of contemporary MENA as a diverse region as well as a web of power inter-‐relations and a sub-‐system of international politics that involve states and non-‐state actors and have a ramification at the cultural and socio-‐economic levels.
- 05 develop an understanding of the state system of the Middle East
- 06 to understand the relationship between state and civil society organizations in the region as well as gain comparative insights and knowledge on the ongoing worldwide democratic processes.
- 07 to understand the politics, cultures and societies of the MENA
- 08 Practice and improve research skills
- 09 Improve analytical skills
Course Syllabus
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction |
| Week 2 | UNDP reports |
| Week 3 | Prospects for democratization |
| Week 4 | Aid from the USA and EU |
| Week 5 | Policies of the West |
| Week 6 | Politics of Palestine |
| Week 7 | NGOs and Palestine |
| Week 8 | Saudi Arabia |
| Week 9 | Iraq |
| Week 10 | North Africa |
| Week 11 | Secularism vs Religion |
| Week 12 | Clash of Civilizations? |
| Week 13 | Development and Progress |
| Week 14 | Women Rights |
| Week 15 | final |
Reference Books & Course Materials
- 01 Rahbaek, Birgitte, ed. Democratisation in the Middle East: Dilemmas and perspectives. Aarhus Universitetsforlag, 2005.
Learning Outcomes
- L01 Students will categorize different democracy problems. SOLO 4
- L02 The student will evaluate state-civil society relations in different countries. SOLO 5
- L03 The student will compare different actors, models and processes. SOLO 5
- L04 Students will evaluate different processes with relevance to actors and structures. SOLO 5
- L05 The student will be able to generalize common features in the region. SOLO 5
Program Outcomes
No program outcomes have been defined.
Po-Lo Matrix
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