Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA1010: Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

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:

  • Introduction to the Study of Middle Eastern Politics and Economy: theoretical background
  • The Making of the Modern Middle East: Colonialism and Nationalism
  • The Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • Egypt from Coup to Coup (1952-2013)
  • Lebanon, Palestine and the Diaspora: Community and State
  • Resilient Authoritarianism in Syria
  • Rentierism and Patrimonialism in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
  • Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Imperial Legacies Return in Iraq: State Formation & the Modern Politics of Post-2003
  • The Political Dynamics of the Maghreb
  • Islamism and the Arab Spring: between Violence and Democracy

Learning and Teaching

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
26.5123.50

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity26.5A combination of lectures and guided seminar discussions, (11 x 1.5 hour lectures and 10 x 1 hour seminars) including group brainstorming and brief student presentations. Seminar discussions generally follow a related introductory lecture the previous week
Guided Independent study38Weekly reading for lectures and tutorials
Guided Independent study18Researching and preparing presentation
Guided Independent study59.5Researching and writing of summative essays
Guided Independent study8Web-based learning

Online Resources

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