INRE604 - MIDDLE EAST IN WORLD AFFAIRS

Course Description

The main objective of this course is to analyze the political, socio-cultural and economic structures of the Middle Eastern countries in order to compare and conceptualize the internal and external political making in the region. Within this framework, the course will focus on issue-areas and specific country models to examine nation-building processes, politics of identity, regional ideologies, minorities, processes of democratization in a regional context. Finally, the lectures will put an emphasis on the issue of predicaments and problems pertaining to these processes of nation and state-building in the Middle East realm.

MIDDLE EAST IN WORLD AFFAIRS

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Course outcomes

01 To develop knowledge and understanding of the state system of the Middle East
02 To Asses the relationship between state and society in the region.
03 The ability to analyze the region in its wider international context
04 To criticize with competence the literature related to the study of Middle Eastern societies.
05 To develop appreciation of and respect for values and attitudes regarding the issues of the dynamics of the region by addressing the historic prejudices, ideological stereotypes and political misconceptions.
06 To critically , thoroughly and dialectically examine most of the factors, both international and domestic, that have shaped and continue to shape politics in the Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) region. It aims to acquaint students with the main theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of world politics with a focus on MENA region as it relates to the international system.
07 To evaluate and analyze the persistent issues that revolve around war, peace and the relation of the MENA with external powers. Thus this seminar is organized for the purpose to provide 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.
08 To develop analytical, writing skills with competence to generalize, hypothesize, criticize, theorize.
09 To develop critical objectives in order to improve communication skills for in-class presentations.
10 Thus this seminar is organized for the purpose to provide a fundamental Hypthesize 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.

Course Syllabus

Week	Topic
Week 1	I. INTRODUCTION: MENA: Scope, delimitation, mapping, definition, and evolving denominations/ configurations. Required Readings: L. Fawcett, 2016: Introduction, 1 & 2; F. Halliday: Introduction, 1, 3, 7. Recommended Readings: For a series of useful maps see: www.mondediplo.com.maps P. Bilgin, Whose Middle East? Vol. 18 (1) (pp. 25-41) D. Fromkin, How the Modern Middle East Map Came to be Drawn… Smithsonian. 1991. Suggested Readings: B. Lewis, The Map of the Middle East… The American Scholar. 1989. Winter (pp. 19-38)
Week 2	II. Methodology and Theory in the study of and discourse on MENA/World Politics. Required Readings: On Moodle: POMEPS Studies 16 (2015). International Relations Theory and a Changing Middle East. especially pages 6-20; 27-31; 36-38; 42-51; 71-73. Recommended Readings: A. Bayat, Studying Middle Eastern Societies…MESA Bulletin. 2001. Vol. 35 (pp. 151-158); L. Anderson, Politics in the Middle East Opportunities and Limits in the Quest for Theory, in Tessler, M. (pp. 1-10); A. Korany, International Relations Theory Contribution from Research in the ME, in Tessler, M. (pp. 148-158). M. Tessler, J. Nachtwey, and A. Banda. Introduction: The Area Studies Controversy. In Tessler, M. (ed.) 1999. Suggested Readings: Bromley, S. 1994. Understanding the Middle East, pp. 6-45. Gallagher, Nancy E. 1996. Introduction. (pp. 1-17); Little, Douglas. 2004. Orientalism, American Style… (pp. 9-42); Said, Edward W. 1978-1995. (pp. 1-28, 201-225); Said, Edward W. 1993. (pp. 3-14, 15-19); Kramer, Martin. 2002. (pp. 27-43).
Week 3	PART I. Regional Dynamics in Historical Perspective. I. The Cold War and the MENA Required Readings: L. Fawcett, 2016: Ch. 3; F. Halliday: Ch. 4. Recommended Readings: Y. Sayigh, & A. Shlaim 1997. The Cold War... (pp. 1-5); F. Halliday, The Middle East the Great Powers and the Cold War in Sayigh, Y. & Shlaim, A. (pp. 6-26) Suggested Readings: Books and articles to be researched by students.
Week 4	PART II. Selected Themes in International Political and Economic Relations. I. The MENA Regional System after the Cold War. Required Readings: L. Fawcett, 2016: Ch. 4; F. Halliday: Ch. 5. Recommended Readings: L. J. Cantori, The ME in the New World Order in Ismael, Tareq Y. and Ismael, Jacqueline S. 1994. (451-472); S. D. Krasner, ME and the end of the Cold War, in Guazzone, Laura 1997. (pp. 201-215); Murden, Simon. 2002. Reconstructing the Post-Cold War World… (pp. 23-42).
Week 5	II. Oil and the Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on the Domestic and International Politics in the MENA Region Required Readings: L. Fawcett, 2016: Ch. 5; F. Halliday: Ch. 9. Recommended Readings: P. Sullivan, The Gulf War Economic and Financial Linkages…in Ismael, Tareq Y. and Ismael, Jacqueline S. 1994. (pp. 72-142). Khalidi, Rashid. 2004. The ME: Geostrategy and Oil. (pp. 74-117); See also: www.mondediplo.com/2003/04/03oi.
Week 6	STAGE 1 OF RESEARCH PAPER DUE! III. Globalization and the MENA Region. Required Readings: On Moodle: C. M. Henry, 2009, "The Clash of Globalizations in the Middle East" (in L. Fawcett, 2nd ed.); Recommended Readings: Henry, C. M. and Springborg, R. 2001. Overview, (pp.1-29) and Conclusion, (pp. 223-229). Suggested Readings: Hinnebusch, R. 2003. The Middle East in a Decade of Globalization 1991-2001. (pp. 204-239); Additional books and articles to be researched by students.
Week 7	V. The Puzzle of Political Change in the MENA. Required Readings: L. Fawcett, 2016: Ch. 6. N. Jebnoun, M. Kia, and M. Kirk (Eds). 2015. Modern Middle East Authoritarianism: Roots, Ramifications, and Crisis. Chpts. Introduction, 1, 2 and 12. Suggested Readings: Books and articles to be researched by students.
Week 8	HOLIDAY NO CLASSES
Week 9	Discussion on: Structural Realism; Neoliberal Institutionalists; International Society and Hierarchy; Constructivism; Post-Structuralism and Post Modernism; Quantitative Research; POWER TRANSITION THEORY
Week 10	STAGE 2 OF RESEARCH PAPER DUE! V. International Politics and Patterns of Foreign Policy in the MENA Required Readings: R. Hinnebusch and A. Ehtesham. Foreign Policy Making in the Middle East: Complex Realism, in L. Fawcett (Ed.) 2016. Ch. 11. R. Hinnebusch and A. Ehtesham, 2014: The Foreign Policies of Middle East States Chapters 1, 3,6, 8, 10, 12 Halliday, F.2005: 2 Making of foreign Policy: States and Societies; Ch. 8 Challenges to the state transnational movement. (on Moodle)
Week 11	Alliances, Cooperation, Regionalism, and International Organizations in the MENA RESEARCH STAGE III due! Required Readings: L. Fawcett. 2016: Ch. 9: “Alliances and Regionalism in the Middle East.” Ch. 10: M. Calculli and M. Legrenzi, “Middle East Security: Conflict and Securitization of Identities”, and Ch. 14: M. Legrenzi and F. Gregory Gause III, “The International Politics of the Gulf”.
Week 12	VI Assessing Popular Uprisings and the fall/survival of Autocratic/Authoritarian regimes in the MENA Required Readings: Gerges, 2015. Introduction; Chapters 1,2,6 and 7. F. Halliday.1999, Revolution and World Politics The Rise and Fall of the Sixth Great Power. Duke University Press, Durham. 1- Introduction, 1-23. 8-Counter Revolution, 207-233. Part III Conclusions: Theoretical and Historical, 11-Challenges to Theory 293-322; 12-Revolutions in World Politics 323-338. (on Moodle). Reflections Five Years after the Uprisings. 2016. POMEPS STUDIES (On Moodle). L. Sadiki. 2016, The Arab Spring: the ‘People’ in International Relations. In L. Fawcett, Ch.15. Recommended Readings: R. Falk (2015) Chaos and Counter Revolution: After the Arab Spring; J. Petras (2011) The Arab Revolt and the Imperialist Counterattack; A. Roberts et. al. (2016) Civil Resistance in The Arab Spring: Triumphs and Disasters. R. Khalidi (2020) The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance. London: Profile Books.
Week 13	FINAL RESEARCH PAPER DUE! PART III. THE CHANGING INTERNATIONAL ORDER: I. Extra-Regional Actors and the Shaping of the Regional Order in the MENA Required Readings: M. C. Hudson, The United States in the Middle East, Chap. 16 in L. Fawcett (2016); R. Hollis, Europe in the Middle East, Chap. 17 in L. Fawcett (2016). Beside the above-mentioned main players in Middle Eastern politics it is worth inquiring about other contenders, such as the Russian Federation and the Republic of China. For this purpose, students are expected and encouraged to research this suggested theme in light of recent developments in the region. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Madrid to Annapolis II. The Oslo Peace Process Required Readings: L. Fawcett, 2016: Chpts. 12-13; Khaddar, M. Moncef 2013. “The case of the ‘Jewish majority’ and the ‘Arab-Palestinian’ ‘minority’ in Israel.” (on Moodle). Recommended Readings: L. Z. Eisenberg, Lessons About Diplomatic Initiatives and Negotiations. In Tessler, Mark. 1999. (pp. 121-133); Khalidi, Rashid. 2014. Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East. Gerges, Fawaz A. 1994. The Israeli Factor in Inter-Arab and Arab-Superpower Relations (pp. 175-203); Khalidi, Rashid. 2004. The United States and Palestine. (pp. 118-151); E.C. Murphy, The Arab Israeli Conflict and the New World Order, in Jawad, H. A. 1997. (pp. 110-139); Said, Edward W. 1992. N. Chomsky, United States and the Refugee Question, in Aruri, Nasseer (ed.). 2001. (pp. 77-81). A. Shlaim, The Rise and Fall of the Oslo Peace Process, in Fawcett, Louise.2009. (pp. 254-271); R. Falk, Some International Law Implications of the Oslo…in Ismael, Tareq Y. 2000. (pp. 175-225). (in CIU Library) Aruri, Nasseer. 2003. Dishonest Broker: America’s Role in Israel and Palestine. Suggested Readings: Said, Edward W. 2000. The End of the Peace Process: Oslo and After.
Week 14	Finish Program. PRESENTATION/ Discussion of Research Papers.
Week 15	In Class Final Test.

Reference Books & Course Materials

01 Fawcett, Louise (ed.). 2016. International Relations of the Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
02 Hinnebusch, R & Anoushiravan Ehteshami (eds.) 2014. The Foreign Policies of Middle East States. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
03 Fawaz A. Gerges, (ed.), 2015. Contentious Politics in The Middle East Popular Resistance and Marginalized Activism beyond the Arab Uprisings. NY: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-53720-1
04 N. Jebnoun, M. Kia, and M. Kirk (Editors). 2015. Modern Middle East Authoritarianism: Roots, Ramifications, and Crisis. NY: Routledge. Chapters: Introduction, 1, 2 and 12. Lynch. 2016, The New Arab Wars Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle East. NY: Public Affairs. Chapters 1,2,3,5, and 9.

Learning Outcomes

L01 On successful completion of this course, all students will have developed knowledge and understanding of: - the state system of the Middle East
L02 - the relationship between state and society in the region
L03 On successful completion of this course, all students will have developed their skills in: - analyzing the region in its wider international context
L04 - examining critically the literature related to the study of Middle Eastern societies.
L05 On successful completion of this course, all students will have developed their appreciation of and respect for values and attitudes regarding the issues of: - the dynamics of the region by addressing the historic prejudices, ideological stereotypes and political misconceptions.
L06 This course is designed to help graduate students 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. It aims to acquaint students with the main theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of world politics with a focus on MENA region as it relates to the international system.
L07 Students will be prepared to analyze the persistent issues that revolve around war, peace and the relation of the MENA with external powers. Thus this seminar is organized for the purpose to provide 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.

Program Outcomes

No program outcomes have been defined.

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