OVERVIEW

 This course will examine the politics of Middle Eastern Countries in the contemporary world system, mainly focusing on the role of geopolitics and ideology. The foreign policy and domestic affairs of the main Middle Eastern States will be analysed in depth. Recent phenomenons such as the so called "Arab Spring", "ISIS", the Syrian and Yemen crisis, together with the Iran's nuclear deal and the Persian Gulf geopolitics, will be also examined.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who have successfully completed the course will - thorough knowledge of this historical period - be able to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to understand modern political and social processes in the Middle East. They will be able to express their own critical views on historical developments in Middle East -- have improved their writing skills -- have improved their critical reading skills. As a result, be able to reflectively read, comprehend and evaluate the events unfolding in the region today

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who have successfully completed the course will: -- have thorough knowledge of the main political and social issues of today's Middle East, especially on the current issues related to the role of Islam an Nationalism in politics and the process of democratisation in the Region -- be able to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to understand modern political and social processes in the Middle East -- be able to express their own critical views on international relation in Middle East -- have improved their writing skills -- have improved their critical reading skills and have capacity to write a professional commentaries for the Think tanks. The will be also ready to start professions such as analyst, political journalists and junior advisors. 

PREREQUISITES

Contemporary History - International Relations.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures- seminars - paper discussion and workshops. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Welcome Session and Brief Introduction to the Politics of the Middle East
2. Introduction to Political Islam in the Middle East

3. Introduction to the role of nationalism in the Middle East

4. Secularism and pluralism: challlenges in the Middle Eastern societies.

5.  The end of empires: the emergence of modern Middle Eastern States

6.   Themes in contemporary Middle Eastern politics:
      The politics of economic restructuring

7. The limits of oil wealth and the Shale Gas

8. Focus: The Islamic Republic of Iran as peculiar hybrid regime

9. Focus : 'Arab Spring' or 'Islamic awaking: Egyptian and Tunisian cases

10. Focus:Syrian political crisis and the new balance of power in Middle East.

11. Focus: Egypt: muslim brotherhood, Army and civili society.

12.  Focus: Tunisia: the theory of 'Twin Tollerations'.

13. Saudi Arabia and the politics of reform

14. The political crisis in Yemen

15. The role of Non State Actors in the Middle East

16. The Geopolitics of the Persian Gulf

17. The role of Global Players in the Middle East: United States and China

18. The role of Global Players in the Middle East: European Union and Russia

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Ellen Lust, The Middle East, CQ Press, 2015. (chapters 1-5and all profile States in the second part of the book)

2. Roger Owen, State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East. (3rd edition), 2004. (Chapters 1-2)

3. Alfred Stepan, Tunisia's Transition and the Twin Tolerations, Journal of Democracy, Volume 23, Number 2, April 2012, pp. 89-103, Johns Hopkins University Press 

4. NathanBrown,Egypt’sFailedTransition,JournalofDemocracy,Volume24,Number 4,October2013,pp.45-58,JohnsHopkinsUniversity Press.

5. Pejman Abdolmohammadi-Giampiero Cama, Iran as a Peculiar Hybrid Regime: Structure and Dynamics of the Islamic Republic, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2015, Vol. 42, No. 4, 558–578.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANDREA CATANZARO (President)

PEJMAN ABDOLMOHAMMADI

CARLO MORGANTI

LARA PICCARDO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 8th.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam. 

Exam schedule