Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA1010: Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East

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

Module Aims

The module aims to provide you with a general introductory survey of the politics and political economy of the Middle East, covering topics such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the legacy of colonialism, the political economy of oil, the resilience of authoritarianism, the issue of political Islam and popular mobilization. It will provide you with an understanding of the key themes and issues pertinent to the academic study of the Middle-East region, and will seek to expand your ability to engage critically and analytically with issues facing the Middle- East region in the 21st century by situating them in historical and theoretical context, forming the basis for your studies in subsequent years.

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 Skills1. demonstrate an understanding of the major political forces and trends, and of the main characteristics of the political economy, of the contemporary Middle Eastern region and of the dynamics affecting major states within it;
2. place contemporary political events in social and historical contexts;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. relate political issues and trends to economic, societal, and cultural dynamics, and to comprehend the interplay between these at the domestic, regional and international levels;
4. demonstrate analytical and critical thinking related to socio-political and socio-economic phenomena at local and international level;
Personal and Key Skills5. synthesize information from various sources into a coherent written argument;
6. demonstrate good oral and written communication skills; and
7. demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team.

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.

Compulsory readings:

  1.  Gasiorowski, Mark, David Long and Bernard Reich.  The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa. Westview Press, 2013, (7th edition), ONLINE.
  2. Milton-Edwards, Beverly. Contemporary Politics of the Middle East. Polity, 2018. (4th edition), ONLINE.

General readings:

Ayubi, Nazih. Over-Stating the Arab State: Politics and Society in the Middle East. I.B. Tauris 1995.

Guazzone, Laura, Pioppi, Daniela. The Arab State and Neo-Liberal Globalization: The Restructuring of State Power in the Middle East. Ithaca Press, 2010.

Hourani, Albert A history of the Arab people, Belknap Press, 2010.

Lynch, Marc The Arab Uprising. The unfinished revolutions of the new Middle East, Public Affairs, 2013.

Owen, Roger. State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East. London: Routledge, 2004.

Rogan, Eugen The Arabs: A history, London: Basic Books, 2011.

Selvik, Kjetil, Stenslie, Stig. Stability and Change in the Modern Middle East. I.B. Tauris, 2011.

Tripp, Charles The power and the people, Paths of Resistance in the Middle East, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2013