Postgraduate Module Descriptor

ARAM235: Contemporary History and Politics of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The main objective of the module is to provide you with specialised knowledge and critical understanding of the main themes and dynamics in the contemporary history and politics of the Gulf monarchies and Yemen, at the domestic, regional and global levels. This module aims particularly at developing an understanding of processes of political and economic changes in these countries, and of the way these processes have shaped the existing political and economic realities of the broader Middle East. The course will thus equip you to analyse and make informed and critical evaluation of the contemporary politics and economy of the Arabian Peninsula.

A further aim of the course is to develop your analytical thinking skills as independent researchers and to develop intellectual ability to place issues discussed in a wider context, beyond common knowledge immediately available in the media, or conventional readings of the region’s politics and history.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Identify and critically assess the main themes and dynamics in the contemporary history, politics and economy of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, including the historical foundations of power and economic structures; the political and economic impact of oil; and the narratives of power and resistance.
2. Demonstrate an ability to use different analytical approaches and concepts towards the study of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula's contemporary history, and political and social systems.
3. Demonstrate an ability to locate, appraise and use main sources of information and data relating to the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Demonstrate an ability to draw from broader concepts in contemporary history, politics and political economy and to compare the Arabian Peninsula with other regions of the world.
5. Demonstrate an ability to connect political and economic factors and dynamics in their domestic-international linkages.
6. Demonstrate an ability to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Personal and Key Skills7. Demonstrate an ability to analyse and assess academic texts and prevailing notions critically.
8. Demonstrate skills of reasoned and supported argumentation in writing.
9. Demonstrate skills of finding, analysing and synthesising information from a range of sources.