Module ARA1010 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
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.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. 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 Skills | 3. 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 Skills | 5. 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. |
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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 26.5 | 123.5 | 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 activity | 26.5 | A 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 study | 38 | Weekly reading for lectures and tutorials |
| Guided Independent study | 18 | Researching and preparing presentation |
| Guided Independent study | 59.5 | Researching and writing of summative essays |
| Guided Independent study | 8 | Web-based learning |
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.
Compulsory readings:
- Gasiorowski, Mark, David Long and Bernard Reich. The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa. Westview Press, 2013, (7th edition), ONLINE.
- 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
