Module POLM651 for 2017/8
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM651: State and Society in the Middle East
This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.
Module Aims
This module explores concepts, themes and cases which are crucial to an understanding of modern Middle Eastern politics. While political science often conceptualize politics as synonymous with presidents, parties and parliaments, this module studies political power in its broader social setting. By adopting a critical, sociological approach to forces such as ethnicity, religion and nationalism, it seeks to explain Middle East politics with reference to its underlying social dynamics. The module thus examines the interaction between the institutions and ideas of the state, and the social context in which that state is rooted.
Each seminar takes one or two case studies as a means to examine key concepts and theories in political sociology. This allows students to expand their empirical knowledge of the Middle East, as well as their knowledge of debates in the field. Furthermore, students may choose which countries to focus on in their assessed work, so have the option of developing special expertise in particular areas of interest.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate familiarity with concepts and analytical tools applied to study domestic politics in the Middle East. 2. Show understanding of the patterns of state-society interaction in the region. Show understanding of the processes of state formation and of the constitution of social and political forces. 3. Show familiarity with sources of data on these issues and countries of the region. 4. Demonstrate awareness of the different perspectives and debates within the field of Middle East politics. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. Critically analyse primary and secondary source material. 6. Understand and use social theory. 7. Assess the merits of different conceptual, theoretical and methodological approaches 8. Construct coherent yet concise arguments in both written and verbal formats. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 9. Work effectively in a group and independently 10. Communicate effectively orally and in writing 11. Digest, select and organise material. Manage time and meet deadlines 12. Articulate and defend positions on the seminar topics 13. Comment critically but constructively on the arguments of others. |
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar presentation | 1-13 | Oral feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 50 | 3,500 words | 1-13 | Written feedback |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 3,500 words | 1-13 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay (3,500 words) | 1-13 | Next reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay (3,500 words) | 1-13 | Next reassessment period |
