| EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS | |||||
| Bachelor | TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 | QF-EHEA: First Cycle | EQF-LLL: Level 6 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theoretical | Practical | Credit | ECTS |
| POL2634 | Middle East Politics | Fall | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester. |
| Language of instruction: | English |
| Type of course: | Non-Departmental Elective |
| Course Level: | Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle) |
| Mode of Delivery: | Hybrid |
| Course Coordinator : | Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU |
| Recommended Optional Program Components: | None |
| Course Objectives: | The aim of this course is to introduce students to the major political structures and questions in Middle Eastern politics. The first section examines the origins of Middle Eastern states and introduces you to critical structures like religion, tribes, and the family. In the second section, we examine why authoritarianism has persisted in the region, and how it is linked to other issues like nationalism, militarism, and rentierism. The third section assesses the degree to which civil society and social movements—including the revolutionary movements of the ‘Arab Spring’—have challenged longstanding regimes and state structures. And in the fourth and final section, we consider the future of Middle Eastern politics by evaluating some of the lingering concerns and the emerging prospects for liberalization and reform. |
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The students who have succeeded in this course; The students who have succeeded in this course; I. Analyze the Middle East utilizing both historical and theoretical concepts II. Understand the role of ideology and religion, oil in the Middle East III. Compare and contrast Middle East countries’ foreign policies IV. Evaluate the economic, cultural and demographic changes in the Middle East V. Recognize national and international factors in Middle East foreign policy making process |
| Ancient civilizations; the role of religion; the legacies of colonialism; the Middle East regional system, the impact of the international system on the middle east, the challenge of security in the region. |
| Week | Subject | Related Preparation |
| 1) | An Introduction to the Middle East | |
| 2) | Ancient Middle East: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians. | |
| 3) | Great Empires: Persian Empire, Carthage, Rome Empire, Egypt and Hellenism. | |
| 4) | Religion in the Middle East: Christianity and Judaism | |
| 5) | Rise of Islam: The “Golden Age”, Rashidun Caliphate and Split in Islam. | |
| 6) | Spread of Islam: Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid and Ayyubid Dynasties. | |
| 7) | Reconquista in Spain, Andalusia and The Crusades. | |
| 8) | Mongol, Seljuq and Byzantine Empires influences in the Middle East. | |
| 9) | Rise of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman’s influence in the Middle East | |
| 10) | I. World War, Interwar Period, Second World War and the consequences: Impact of the war on the Jewish public and the region, increasing sympathy towards the Jewish public and Zionism and twice Promised Land. | |
| 11) | Modern Middle East: Historic moments, assessments of specific events. | |
| 12) | September 11 Attacks: Foreign Policies of the Middle East States, US Post-September 11. | |
| 13) | The new world order, new approaches and analysis of current issues. | |
| 14) | Review |
| 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 Robert D. Lee – Religion and Politics in the Middle East Peter Mansfield – A History of the Middle East Bernard Lewis – The Middle East Benjamin MacQueen - An Introduction to Middle East Politics |
| References: | 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 Robert D. Lee – Religion and Politics in the Middle East Peter Mansfield – A History of the Middle East Bernard Lewis – The Middle East Benjamin MacQueen - An Introduction to Middle East Politics |
| Semester Requirements | Number of Activities | Level of Contribution |
| Attendance | 14 | % 20 |
| Midterms | 1 | % 40 |
| Final | 1 | % 40 |
| Total | % 100 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK | % 60 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK | % 40 | |
| Total | % 100 | |
| Activities | Number of Activities | Workload |
| Course Hours | 14 | 42 |
| Study Hours Out of Class | 14 | 104 |
| Midterms | 1 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 |
| Total Workload | 150 | |
| No Effect | 1 Lowest | 2 Low | 3 Average | 4 High | 5 Highest |
| Program Outcomes | Level of Contribution | |
| 1) | To be able to examine, interpret data and assess ideas with the scientific methods in the area of EU studies. | 2 |
| 2) | To be able to inform authorities and institutions in the area of EU studies, to be able to transfer ideas and proposals supported by quantitative and qualitative data about the problems. | 2 |
| 3) | To be introduced to and to get involved in other disciplines that EU studies are strongly related with (political science, international relations, law, economics, sociology, etc.) and to be able to conduct multi-disciplinary research and analysis on European politics. | 3 |
| 4) | To be able to evaluate current news on European Union and Turkey-EU relations and identify, analyze current issues relating to the EU’s politics and policies. | 2 |
| 5) | To be able to use English in written and oral communication in general and in the field of EU studies in particular. | 1 |
| 6) | To have ethical, social and scientific values throughout the processes of collecting, interpreting, disseminating and implementing data related to EU studies. | 1 |
| 7) | To be able to assess the historical development, functioning of the institutions and decision-making system and common policies of the European Union throughout its economic and political integration in a supranational framework. | 2 |
| 8) | To be able to evaluate the current legal, financial and institutional changes that the EU is going through. | 2 |
| 9) | To explain the dynamics of enlargement processes of the EU by identifying the main actors and institutions involved and compare previous enlargement processes and accession process of Turkey. | 2 |
| 10) | To be able to analyze the influence of the EU on political, social and economic system of Turkey. | 2 |
| 11) | To acquire insight in EU project culture and to build up project preparation skills in line with EU format and develop the ability to work in groups and cooperate with peers. | 2 |
| 12) | To be able to recognize theories and concepts used by the discipline of international relations and relate them to the historical development of the EU as a unique post-War political project. | 3 |