JWST 40.07 Introduction to Middle East Politics

This is a gateway course to the political life of the Middle East. It will introduce students to the main political issues and dynamics of the region, including: - Conflict and civil wars, from the Arab-Israeli conflict to the Syrian collapse - Security arrangements, especially in oil-rich countries - The political economy of (mal)development - Political ideologies and the conflict between liberalism, nationalism and Islamism - International politics and the American presence in the region - Rivalries and alliances among Middle Eastern powers, including Iran and Turkey - The return of authoritarianism and stalled democratic processes - Terrorism - Anti-colonialism We will cover the basic contours and intellectual debates around these issues, analyzing the main texts tracing their development. The aim of this course is not only to familiarize students with the basic political features of the Middle East but also to equip students with the tools necessary to pursue future academic and analytical work on the politics of the region.

Instructor

Fishere

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:INT or SOC; WCult:NW

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