PG 360 | International Relations of the Middle East

This course begins with a brief historical review of the rise of Islam as a political structure and its impact on the region, as well as the development of the Ottoman Empire and its relationship to Europe and European foreign policies. This discussion will be followed by a focus on colonialism and its effects, in particular the development of nationalism, populism, Islamism and Zionism. From there we will consider ways in which scholars have attempted to analyze and understand Middle East politics and institutions, drawing comparisons to state building, authoritarianism, and democratization elsewhere in the world. This will be combined with an investigation of regional and international politics as they relate to the region, from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the Cold War, and from the Arab Spring onward. This will include a consideration of military conflicts, terrorism, the role of oil and weapons of mass destruction. We will also turn our attention to a number of cases in both their domestic and international politics, which may include but not be limited to Egypt, Israel and Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Students will have the opportunity to investigate particular topics and cases through in depth research and writing and presentations.