MES 12.18 Difficult Conversations on the Middle East

This seminar is designed to equip students with essential skills for engaging in meaningful dialogue across differences. By exploring some of the most controversial topics in the Middle East today, students will learn how to navigate complex, often emotionally charged conversations with empathy and intellectual rigor. The course provides a framework for understanding diverse perspectives, fostering a respectful exchange of ideas, and developing the ability to engage constructively in difficult discussions. Through a combination of case studies, guest speakers, and guided debates, students will enhance their ability to communicate effectively on issues that are both globally significant and deeply personal. Participants will also develop active listening skills and learn how to identify shared values even in polarized contexts, making them more capable of contributing to constructive solutions. By the end of the course, students will have gained valuable insights into the dynamics of conflict and dialogue, skills that are applicable across various fields and contexts.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:INT; WCult:NW

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Middle Eastern Studies