POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Bachelor	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code	Course Name	Semester	Theoretical	Practical	Credit	ECTS
POL6025	International Politics in the Middle East	Spring Fall	3	0	3	12

This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction:	English
Type of course:	Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level:	Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery:	Face to face
Course Coordinator :	Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Recommended Optional Program Components:	none
Course Objectives:	This course aims to give the students brief information on the historical background of the Middle East region. As the Middle East gains more importance each day, the course stresses to explain the formation period of the region and the possible causes of dissolution by examining the Arab Spring while also looking at the origin and the peace process of the Arab- Israeli conflict which holds to be one of the biggest conflicts in the region.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
Upon successful completion of the course, students will acquire necessary historical and political background on the enduring conflicts of the region and their origins.

Course Content

First and foremost, in order to understand the formation of the region and the diversities in the Middle East, the course will also cover the superpower interventions in the states and influences over them. After explaining the region’s features, the course will emphasize on the post September 11 foreign policy of the United States towards the Middle East. Giving
a theoretical approach on the changing balance of power in the international arena after the 1990s, the course will debate on the current status of the world and try to explain the 2003
Iraq War and US’s democracy promotion.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Subject	Related Preparation
1)	Historical Perspective: An Introduction to the Middle East, Foreign Involvement in the Middle East in the early 19th century, I. World War, Interwar Period	Academic Articles and related books
2)	Historical Perspective: An Introduction to the Middle East, Foreign Involvement in the Middle East in the early 19th century, I. World War, Interwar Period	Academic Articles and related books
3)	Second World War and the consequences, the impact of the war on the Jewish public and the region, increasing sympathy towards the Jewish public and Zionism and twice Promised Land	Academic Articles and related books
4)	The establishment of the Israeli state, The Origin of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, beginning of the Palestinian refugee problem, 1947 Partition, 1948 War, 1956 Suez Crisis and the increasing US Pressure on the region	Academic Articles and related books
5)	Nasser Era, Six Day War, Arab Union and the shift of balance of power between the Arab States, Israel-US Partnership	Academic Articles and related books
6)	The Rise of PLO and Arafat, Death of Nasser and Anwar Sadat Era, the Yom Kippur War and Superpower Involvement, the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Process	Academic Articles and related books
7)	The Oil Embargo, Kissinger’s Shuttle Diplomacy, Camp David Accords, Iran, Lebanon, Hamas	Academic Articles and related books
8)	The Oil Embargo, Kissinger’s Shuttle Diplomacy, Camp David Accords, Iran, Lebanon, Hamas	Academic Articles and related books
9)	Iraq, The Gulf War, US and the Gulf, Madrid and Oslo Accords, 2000 Camp David, September 11 Attacks	Academic Articles and related books
10)	Iraq, The Gulf War, US and the Gulf, Madrid and Oslo Accords, 2000 Camp David, September 11 Attacks	Academic Articles and related books
11)	Foreign Policies of the Middle East States, US Post-September 11 Policies, 2003 Iraq War	Academic Articles and related books
12)	US Democracy Promotion – Interventions	Academic Articles and related books
13)	Arab Spring and It’s Implications	Academic Articles and related books
14)	Overview	Academic Articles and related books

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:	William L. Cleveland – Modern Middle East History Louise Fawcett - International Relations of the Middle East Raymond Hinnebusch & Anoushiravan Ehteshami - The Foreign Policies of the Middle East States Ian J. Bickerton - The Arab-Israeli Conflict Laura Zittrain Eisenberg & Neil Caplan- Negotiating Arab - Israeli Peace David S. Sorenson - Interpreting the Middle East
References:	Robert D. Lee – Religion and Politics in the Middle East Peter Mansfield – A History of the Middle East

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements	Number of Activities	Level of Contribution
Attendance	14	% 30
Homework Assignments	10	% 40
Final	1	% 30
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 70
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 30
Total		% 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities	Number of Activities	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Course Hours	14	3	42
Application	14	4	56
Study Hours Out of Class	14	4	56
Homework Assignments	9	2	18
Final	1	3	3
Total Workload			175

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect	1 Lowest	2 Low	3 Average	4 High	5 Highest

	Program Outcomes	Level of Contribution
1)	Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice.
2)	Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies.
3)	Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences.
4)	Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments.
5)	Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy.
6)	Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member.
7)	Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development.
8)	Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies.
9)	Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives.
10)	Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments.
11)	Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era.
12)	Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics.