Middle East and International Relations
Course convenor: Dr. Lamis El Muhtaseb
Department of Social Political and Cognitive Sciences and Johns Hopkins University at Bologna
☎ (for appointments) 39.0577.23539983
@ lelmuhtaseb07[at]johnshopkins.it
Lesson Hours: Friday 12-14 (but see changes)
Office Hours: after lessons
Department of Social Political and Cognitive Sciences and Johns Hopkins University at Bologna
☎ (for appointments) 39.0577.23539983
@ lelmuhtaseb07[at]johnshopkins.it
Lesson Hours: Friday 12-14 (but see changes)
Office Hours: after lessons
This module aims at introducing graduate students to some of the main features of Middle Eastern politics. This introduction will include five major areas of interest that characterize the making of such politics, and consequently the shaping of contemporary events in the region. Case studies will be used to investigate and expose the main elements in each area.
The course will be divided into five sessions with each session devoted to one area of analysis. The first session will review recent events in the region (Arab Spring and outcome). Factors leading to such outcome will be explained in the following four sessions. Initial links to related articles are provided with the possibility of adding others. Students will be informed in adequate time.
1. Arab Spring and democracy in the region: A spring turning into an autumn. Review of events and outcome in various Arab Countries, such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt and Tunisia.
a. http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/12/03/storms-of-arab-spring/gv83
b. http://www.lawfareblog.com/2014/01/the-foreign-policy-essay-frederic-wehrey-on-the-roots-and-blowback-of-the-new-sectarianism/#.UuZyiftOncv
2. The Middle East: The fortress of authoritarian regimes, a short history. Case study is Egypt.
a. http://carnegieendowment.org/2011/01/31/from-tunisia-to-egypt-protests-in-arab-world/xpp
b. Material to be assigned
3. External intervention as a major persistent factor in shaping the politics of the region. The cases of two principal actors will be explored: The US and the EU.
a. http://middleeast.about.com/od/usmideastpolicy/a/me070909b.htm
b. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/06/23/america_cant_fix_the_middle_east_but_it_can_fix_its_middle_east_policy_obama_bush_iraq
c. http://carnegieeurope.eu/2014/07/03/eu-foreign-policy-in-arab-world-three-bad-examples/hf3l
4. Religion and politics in the region: The case of the Muslim Brotherhood and the case of the ISIS.
a. http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2014/03/11/political-islam-becomes-less-political/
b. http://nationalinterest.org/feature/isis-terrorism-upgraded-10825?page=2
5. Major conflicts in the region: The case of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Reading material to be assigned
The course will be divided into five sessions with each session devoted to one area of analysis. The first session will review recent events in the region (Arab Spring and outcome). Factors leading to such outcome will be explained in the following four sessions. Initial links to related articles are provided with the possibility of adding others. Students will be informed in adequate time.
1. Arab Spring and democracy in the region: A spring turning into an autumn. Review of events and outcome in various Arab Countries, such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt and Tunisia.
a. http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/12/03/storms-of-arab-spring/gv83
b. http://www.lawfareblog.com/2014/01/the-foreign-policy-essay-frederic-wehrey-on-the-roots-and-blowback-of-the-new-sectarianism/#.UuZyiftOncv
2. The Middle East: The fortress of authoritarian regimes, a short history. Case study is Egypt.
a. http://carnegieendowment.org/2011/01/31/from-tunisia-to-egypt-protests-in-arab-world/xpp
b. Material to be assigned
3. External intervention as a major persistent factor in shaping the politics of the region. The cases of two principal actors will be explored: The US and the EU.
a. http://middleeast.about.com/od/usmideastpolicy/a/me070909b.htm
b. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/06/23/america_cant_fix_the_middle_east_but_it_can_fix_its_middle_east_policy_obama_bush_iraq
c. http://carnegieeurope.eu/2014/07/03/eu-foreign-policy-in-arab-world-three-bad-examples/hf3l
4. Religion and politics in the region: The case of the Muslim Brotherhood and the case of the ISIS.
a. http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2014/03/11/political-islam-becomes-less-political/
b. http://nationalinterest.org/feature/isis-terrorism-upgraded-10825?page=2
5. Major conflicts in the region: The case of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Reading material to be assigned