POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL 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 | 4 |
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester |
Language of instruction: | En |
Type of course: | Departmental Elective |
Course Level: | Bachelor |
Mode of Delivery: | Hybrid |
Course Coordinator : | Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU |
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. |
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: | 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 |
Laboratory | % 0 | |
Application | % 0 | |
Field Work | % 0 | |
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) | % 0 | |
Quizzes | % 0 | |
Homework Assignments | 0 | % 0 |
Presentation | 0 | % 0 |
Project | % 0 | |
Seminar | % 0 | |
Midterms | 1 | % 40 |
Preliminary Jury | % 0 | |
Final | 1 | % 40 |
Paper Submission | % 0 | |
Jury | % 0 | |
Bütünleme | % 0 | |
Total | % 100 | |
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK | % 60 | |
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK | % 40 | |
Total | % 100 |
Activities | Number of Activities | Workload | |
Course Hours | 14 | 42 | |
Laboratory | |||
Application | |||
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) | |||
Field Work | |||
Study Hours Out of Class | 14 | 104 | |
Presentations / Seminar | |||
Project | |||
Homework Assignments | |||
Quizzes | |||
Preliminary Jury | |||
Midterms | 1 | 2 | |
Paper Submission | |||
Jury | |||
Final | 1 | 2 | |
Total Workload | 150 |
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. |