| School/Faculty/Institute |
Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences |
| Course Code |
IR 325 |
| Course Title in English |
Contemporary Middle East Politics |
| Course Title in Turkish |
Contemporary Middle East Politics |
| Language of Instruction |
EN |
| Type of Course |
Flipped Classroom |
| Level of Course |
Introductory |
| Semester |
Fall |
| Contact Hours per Week |
| Lecture: 3 |
Recitation: |
Lab: |
Other: |
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| Estimated Student Workload |
136 hours per semester |
| Number of Credits |
5 ECTS |
| Grading Mode |
Standard Letter Grade
|
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Expected Prior Knowledge |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| Registration Restrictions |
Only Undergraduate Students |
| Overall Educational Objective |
To understand the historical underpinnings of contemporary Middle East politics, economy, and international relations. |
| Course Description |
The Middle East has long attracted great power interest due to its natural resources and geographic location between Asia and Europe, but the region’s peoples have also long competed with each other for power and influence. This course uses a historical and thematic approach to understand how both outside powers and regional forces have established the political, economic and diplomatic foundations of the contemporary Middle East. It starts by introducing students to the region’s geography and demography and then reaches back to the early nineteenth century to explain the onset of Western imperialism amidst a declining Ottoman Empire. The course proceeds chronologically thereafter into the twentieth century, exploring themes of European colonialism, state formation, Arab nationalism, the Cold War, oil, the Arab-Israeli conflict, war, autocracy, and political Islam. |
| Course Description in Turkish |
Ortadoğu doğal kaynakları ve coğrafi konumu nedeniyle tarih boyunca büyük güçlerin ilgisini çekmiştir. Bölgede yaşayan toplumlar da birbirleriyle güç ve nüfuz edinmek için yarışmışlardır. Bu ders bölge devletlerinin ve bölge dışı güçlerin Ortadoğu’nun siyasi ekonomik temellerini nasıl attığını tarihsel ve tematik bir yaklaşımla vermektedir. Bölgenin coğrafi ve demografik özelliklerinden başlayarak Batı emperyalizmini Osmanlı döneminin çöküş döneminden itibaren ele almaktadır. Kronolojik olarak ele aldığı konular koloniyalizm, devlet oluşum süreçleri, Arap milliyetçiliği, Soğuk Savaş, petrol, Arap-İsrail çatışması, otokrasi ve Siyasal İslam’dır. |
Course Learning Outcomes and Competences
Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) understand the role of Western imperialism in shaping the Middle East;
2) analyze how Middle East states were forged individually and in relation to one another;
3) discern the major fault lines and development of political economy in the region since the early nineteenth century;
4) appraise current developments in the region based on past behavior, historical interests, and national imperatives.
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| Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| 1) Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. |
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| 2) Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts |
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| 3) Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice |
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| 4) Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. |
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| 5) Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software |
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| 6) Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies |
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| 7) Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems |
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| 8) Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies |
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| 9) Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life |
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| 10) Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad |
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Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences
| N None |
S Supportive |
H Highly Related |
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| |
Program Outcomes and Competences |
Level |
Assessed by |
| 1) |
Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. |
N |
|
| 2) |
Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts |
N |
|
| 3) |
Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice |
N |
|
| 4) |
Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. |
N |
|
| 5) |
Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software |
N |
|
| 6) |
Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies |
N |
|
| 7) |
Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems |
N |
|
| 8) |
Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies |
N |
|
| 9) |
Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life |
N |
|
| 10) |
Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad |
N |
|
| Prepared by and Date |
AYŞEGÜL KİBAROĞLU , January 2024 |
| Course Coordinator |
AYŞEGÜL KİBAROĞLU |
| Semester |
Fall |
| Name of Instructor |
|
Course Contents
| Week |
Subject |
| 1) |
Introduction: Geography and Demographics
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| 2) |
Islam, Western Imperialism and Orientalism
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| 3) |
First Wave: North Africa (Country Focus: Algeria)
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| 4) |
Oil and Arab Revolt (Country Focus: Jordan)
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| 5) |
British-French Mandatory Rule (Country Focus: Lebanon)
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| 6) |
Nation State Formation (Country Focus: Egypt)
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| 7) |
The Cold War (Country Focus: Turkey)
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| 8) |
The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Country Focus: Israel)
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| 9) |
Mid-term |
| 10) |
Pan-Arab Nationalism and Disunity (Country Focus: Syria)
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| 11) |
Oil Crises and US Entry (Country Focus: Saudi Arabia)
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| 12) |
Rise of Political Islam (Country Focus: Iran)
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| 13) |
Lebanese Civil War and Iran-Iraq War (Country Focus: Iraq)
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| 14) |
End of Cold War and Neoconservatism
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| Required/Recommended Readings | William L. Cleveland and Martin Bunton, A History of the Middle East (Colorado: Westview Press, 2013).
Eugene Rogan, The Arabs: A History (London: Penguin Books, 2009).
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| Teaching Methods | Instructional strategy and expectations for both students and instructional staff that follow from this. Student work modes (independently and/or in teams). Any work with the outside community – geographic or industry sector.
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| Homework and Projects | - |
| Laboratory Work | - |
| Computer Use | - |
| Other Activities | - |
| Assessment Methods |
| Assessment Tools |
Count |
Weight |
| Attendance |
14 |
% 20 |
| Quiz(zes) |
2 |
% 10 |
| Presentation |
2 |
% 20 |
| Midterm(s) |
1 |
% 20 |
| Final Examination |
1 |
% 30 |
| TOTAL |
% 100 |
|
| Course Administration |
aysegul.kibaroglu@mef.edu.tr
Regular attendance and participation in class discussion
Two Power Point presentations (minimum 5 slides and 10 minutes in length) that answer the week’s discussion question. These should be emailed to the instructor before the class begins and presented in class and must draw on class readings, but outside sources can be used to augment them.
Midterm, in-class, open-book, open-note, open-presentation, “internet-off” exam. More
details about the exam will be discussed in class.
Final, in-class, open-book, open-note, open-presentation, “internet-off” exam. More
details about the exam will be discussed in class.
Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: YÖK Disciplinary Regulation.
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Information Package / Course Catalogue