Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM082: International Relations of the Middle East

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module seeks to analyse what it is about the political dynamics of the MENA region which pulls the region in conflicting directions, and to consider what options exist for creating more favourable conditions in the future. This module will acquaint you with the dynamics and main trends and events in the international politics of the Middle East; and help you to explore whether and how particular International Relations approaches may be applied to the Middle East. You will be guided in the range of views held by different authors and will be encouraged to both engage critically with them and develop your own position

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 Skills	1. demonstrate in-depth knowledge of key issues in the International politics of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); 2. demonstrate a detailed and critical understanding of the actors, dynamics and trends in the regional politics; 3. demonstrate familiarity with, and critical application of, the main analytical frameworks that relate to the international relations of the MENA
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. find, use and analyse secondary and primary data relevant to specific issue areas; 5. to place contemporary issues in larger contexts; 6. deploy critical arguments in analysing issues and evaluating sources
Personal and Key Skills	7. work independently and in groups including the presentation of material for group discussion; 8. demonstrate strong analytical skills; digest, select and organise material; and 9. demonstrate excellent writing skills including the ability to produce well organised and coherent essays to a deadline; practice in articulating and defending positions on the seminar topics

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Studying the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from an international relations perspective

The MENA regional system

Application of IR theories to the MENA

Regionalism in the MENA

Foreign policy analysis

The Gulf sub-region

The Levant sub-region & Israel-Palestine conflict

The Maghreb sub-region

External actors (1): the US and China

External actors (2): the EU and Russia

The impact of the 2011 uprisings

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	11 x 2 hour seminars
Guided independent study	100	Reading for seminars
Guided independent study	178	Completion of course work

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).