Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM082: International Relations of the Middle East

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

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are: to introduce students to the diversity and depth of an International Relations (IR) analysis of MENA politics; to discuss the application to this region of general IR theories, theories of regionalism and foreign policy analysis; to develop critical analysis of sources, paradigms, writers and policies; and to deepen students’ knowledge of key events, trends and actors in the region.

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. 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).

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.

Fawcett, L. (ed.) (2013) International Relations of the Middle East (3^rd ed.) (Oxford University Press).
Hinnebusch, R. (2015) The International Politics of the Middle East (2^nd ed.) (Manchester University Press).
Halliday, F. (2005) The Middle East in International Relations (Cambridge University Press).
Hinnebusch, R. and A. Ehteshami (eds.) (2014) The Foreign Policies of Middle East States (2^nd ed.) (Lynne Rienner).
Korany, B. and A.E.H. Dessouki (eds.) (2008) The Foreign Policies of Arab States: The Challenge of Globalization (3^rd ed.) (AUC Press).
Adler, E., F. Bicchi, B. Crawford and R.A. del Sarto (eds.) The Convergence of Civilizations: Constructing a Mediterranean Region (University of Toronto Press).
Barnett, M.N. (1998) Dialogues in Arab Politics: Negotiations in Regional Order (Columbia University Press).
Braveboy-Wagner, J.A. (ed.) (2003) The Foreign Policies of the Global South. Rethinking Conceptual Frameworks (Lynne Rienner).
Cleveland, W. (2004) A History of the Contemporary Middle East (Westview).
Ferabolli, S. (2014) Arab Regionalism: A Post-Structural Perspective (Routledge).
Fürtig, H. (ed.) (2014) Regional Powers in the Middle East: New Constellations after the Arab Revolts (Palgrave Macmillan).
Hinnebusch, R. (2003) The International Relations of the Middle East (Manchester University Press).
Ismael, T.Y. and G.E. Perry (eds.) (2014) The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East. Subordination and After (Routledge).
Mason, R. (ed.) (2014) The International Politics of the Arab Spring: Popular Unrest and Foreign Policy (Palgrave Macmillan).
Milton-Edwards, B. (2006) Contemporary Politics in the Middle East (Polity Press).
Nonneman, G. (ed.) (2005) Analyzing Middle East Foreign Policies and the Relationship with Europe (Routledge).
Salloukh, B. and R. Brynen (eds.) (2004) Persistent Permeability? Regionalism, Localism and Globalization in the Middle East (Ashgate, 2004).
Telhami, S. and Barnett, M.N. (eds.) (2002) Identity and Foreign Policy in the Middle East (Cornell University Press).
Zoubir, Y.H. and H. Amirah (eds.) (2008) North Africa: Politics, Region, and the Limits of Transformation (Routledge)
Zoubir, Y.H. and G. White (eds.) (2015) North African Politics: Change and Continuity (Routledge).