Module ARAM244 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
ARAM244: Politics and Economics of the Middle East
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the subjects of the politics and economics of the Middle East and North Africa. The module makes use of various books, practitioner reports and policy papers on politics and economics in the region, covering theoretical as well as empirical material. You will gain the skills to discuss the topics both in a country-specific and a broader setting, i.e., across the Middle East and North Africa.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of key issues in the debate on Middle East politics and economics, including international relations and development studies. 2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the state of politics and economics in the Middle East and North Africa, not only at the regional level, but also in individual cases. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Find, use and analyze secondary and primary data relevant to specific issue areas, particularly Middle Eastern current affairs. 4. Place issues discussed in a wider context and deploy critical arguments relevant to the field of Middle East politics and economics. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through readings, class/group discussions and presentations. 6. Exhibit your ability to undertake political analysis at an advanced level. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
The module will consist of 11 sessions which will emphasize different aspects of Middle East politics and economics, focusing in particular on the main actors and institutions in the region and the challenges and opportunities facing these. 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:
- The Arab Uprisings: placing the module in context
- Poverty and inequality
- Crony capitalism
- Arab militaries: economic and political interference
- Competitive authoritarianism
- Governments and parliaments
- Political parties
- Essay workshop (synopsis-based)
- Women in parliament
- Trade unions
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 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 22 | 11x2-hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 77 | Weekly reading (7 hours per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 22 | Class preparation (2 hours per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 179 | Preparation and writing of synopsis (44 hours) and essay (135 hours) |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| synopsis | 25 | 2,000 words | 1-6 | Written |
| Essay | 75 | 5,500 words | 1-6 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| synopsis | synopsis | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Brown, Nathan (2001) Constitutions in a Nonconstitutional World. New York: State University of New York Press.
Cavatorta, Francesco and Lise Storm (eds) (2018) Political Parties in the Arab World. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Diwan, Ishac, Adeel Malik and Izak Atiyas (eds) (2019) Crony Capitalism in the Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hinnebusch, Raymond and Jasmine Gani (eds) (2019) The Routledge Handbook to the Middle East and North African State and States System. London: Routledge.
Krishnan, Nandini, Gabriel Lara Ibarra, Ambar Narayan, Sailesh Tiwari and Tara Vishwanath (2016) Uneven Odds, Unequal Outcomes: Inequality of Opportunity in the Arab Region. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
Levitsky, Steven and Lucan Way (2011) Competitive Authoritarianism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
