Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
International Relations of the Middle East
Course Code
SZF_023
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
4.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Toms Rātfelders
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The objective of the course International Relations in the Middle East is to introduce students to the main historical developments in international relations in the Middle East region in the 20th century and how they relate to the present day. The course will examine the developments within the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of international relations, which will provide students with an understanding of the role of the Middle East region in the study of contemporary international relations, as well as enable them to apply the knowledge gained in other courses to the analysis of the actions of countries in the region within the international system. At the same time, students will be introduced to research concepts in international relations of the Third World and post-colonial countries: omnibalancing, regime security, Arab street, etc. These will complement the Western perspective on international relations previously covered in the studies and will allow for a better understanding of the facets of foreign policy-making in Middle Eastern
countries.
Preliminary Knowledge
No specific prior knowledge of the Middle East issues is required.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.The course will provide students with the knowledge to identify the main developments in international relations in the Middle East in the 20th century and an understanding of their impact on the current situation in the region. The student should also be able to identify the main international players involved in the region (USA, Russia, China, EU, etc.) and their foreign policy interests. Students will be able to understand the characteristics of the Middle East regional system and its impact on national decision-making processes.
Skills
1.The course develops students’ critical thinking skills and their ability to assimilate large amounts of information. The simulation games will also develop debating, teamwork and consensus-building skills that can be useful when working in public administration, international institutions and the private sector.
Competences
1.Students will be able to orient in the main theoretical concepts of international relations in the Middle East and to apply them both to the analysis of political processes in the region and to the research of international relations.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Students are required to read the literature for every lecture and seminar. This literature must be included in the preparation of opinion pieces and the final report. Students must take a 5-minute written test at the beginning of each seminar on the literature read and lecture material. Similarly, to prepare for the simulation game, students must develop a written position for the side they represent. In the simulation game, students have to create a single document describing a proposal to solve the problem situation. Finally, students must also present their report idea.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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By prior arrangement, students are required to prepare an individual report on the political development of a Middle Eastern country (actor) in the 20th century (no more than 2 students can write about the same country). The report should clearly identify the main political events of the country in the 20th century (according to the student’s opinion), identify the main trends and directions in foreign policy (foreign policy strategy) and briefly explain how the country's foreign policy decision-making mechanism works. Volume: 10-12 pages (excluding references and bibliography).
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2.
Examination |
-
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-
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To receive a positive final assessment, students must participate in seminars (including the simulation game), pass tests, prepare opinion papers, develop and present a report and pass the exam.
Assessment criteria for opinion pieces:
• Relevance to the seminar topic and critical evaluation thereof;
• Compliance with the specified volume criteria;
• The validity of the arguments made, with reference to the literature or other sources read during the course;
• Grammar and compliance with text formatting rules;
• Factual accuracy;
• Amount of sources used.
Report assessment criteria:
• Ability to identify the main political events of the chosen country in the 20th century and justify one’s choice;
• Ability to identify the main trends and directions in the foreign policy of the chosen country and to justify one’s opinion;
• Ability to identify the foreign policy decision-making mechanism of the chosen country and to justify one’s opinion;
• Involvement of the literature used within the course and also outside the course in developing the work;
• Grammar and compliance with text formatting requirements;
• Factual accuracy.
Assessment criteria for the simulation game:
• Active participation in the discussion;
• Confidence about and factual accuracy of the arguments expressed;
• Ability to cooperate and build consensus with other players in the simulation game;
• Factual accuracy of the written position.
Seminar assessment criteria:
• Active participation in the discussion;
• Factual accuracy of the arguments expressed.
The final average grade will be constituted by the following:
seminars (60%) + factual test (40%): 25% of the final grade Quality of opinion pieces: 25%
Report quality: 25%
Exam grade: 25%
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Introduction. The Importance of the Middle East and the Regional System in Contemporary International Relations.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The Birth of the Modern Middle East: The First World War, the Ottoman Empire, the Arab Revolt, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Creation of the Mandates.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The Colonial Period and Its Impact on the Establishment of Independent Countries in the Middle East
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Why Is There So Much Conflict in the Middle East?
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Arab Nationalism and the Arab Cold War Period: The Nasser Factor, Attempts at Realignment, the Six-Day War (1967).
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Weakening of Arab Nationalism and Strengthening of Nation States: The Yom Kippur War (1973), the Lebanese
Civil War (1975-1990), the Rise of the Influence of Political Islam, the Iranian Revolution (1979), the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Arab Unity: Historical and Contemporary Aspects
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The Period of US ‘Hegemony’ in the Middle East: The Gulf War (1990), the Iraq-Iran Issues, the Invasion of Iraq (2003).
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Arab Spring, Arab Winter and the Future of the Middle East
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Summary: Analysis of Events in the Middle East Today
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Middle East Issues Today: The Sunni-Shia Conflict
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Middle East Issues Today: Syrian Civil War
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Middle East Issues Today: Yemeni Civil War
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Middle East Issues Today: Nuclear Program of Iran
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Latvia’s Place in the Modern Middle East
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Simulation game: Israeli–Palestinian Conflict I
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Simulation game: Israeli–Palestinian Conflict II
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Student paper project presentations I
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Student paper project presentations II
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Student paper project presentations III
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
4.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem
2.
(Blackwell companions to world history) Youssef M. Choueiri. A Companion to the History of the Middle East. Wiley-Blackwell (2005).
3.
Benjamin MacQueen. An Introduction to Middle East Politics. Sage Publications Ltd, (2013).
4.
Atlas of the Middle East. (2003).
5.
Ellen Lust. The Middle East. CQ Press (2014).
6.
Eugene Rogan. The Fall of the Ottomans. The Great War in the Middle East. Basic Books (2015).
7.
Heather Deegan. Third Worlds. The Politics of the Middle East and Africa-Routledge. (1996).
8.
Hinnebusch. Foreign Policies of Middle East States. (2014).
9.
Jackson
10.
Louise Fawcett. international relations of middle east. 6th ed. Oxford University Press, (2023).
11.
Mark Gasiorowski. The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa.
12.
Mehran Kamrava. The Modern Middle East_ A Political History since the First World War. 6th ed. University of California Press, (2013).
13.
MEPolicyCouncil. What-Where Middle East.
14.
Peter Mansfield, Nicolas Pelham. A History of the Middle East. Penguin, (2019).
15.
Raymond Hinnebusch. The International Politics of the Middle East. 2nd ed. Regional International Politics Series. (2015).
16.
Raymond Hinnebusch, Jasmine Gani. The Routledge Handbook to the Middle East and North African State and States System. Taylor Francis Group (2020).
17.
Roger Owen. State, Power Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East. 3rd ed. (2004).
18.
Subaltern realism
19.
The International Relations of the Persian Gulf by F. Gregory Gause, III.
20.
William L Cleveland, Martin Bunton. A History of the Modern Middle East. 6th ed. Westview Press (2016).