CATEGORY: Global Studies & International Relations

The politic in the Middle East

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Course Overview

Course Title: The Politics of the Middle East
Course Code: POL 350
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: POL 210 (Introduction to Global Politics) or instructor consent.

Catalog Description:
This course provides a systematic and critical examination of the political dynamics shaping the contemporary Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It moves beyond current events to explore the deep historical structures, ideological contests, and institutional mechanisms that define power and conflict in the region. The curriculum is built around core analytical themes—including state formation, nationalism, authoritarianism, political economy, and identity—and applies them to pivotal case studies. A unique feature is the consistent comparative insight with the Horn of Africa, challenging regionally exceptionalist narratives and highlighting broader patterns of state-building, conflict, and external intervention. Students will develop the conceptual tools to analyze regime durability, social mobilization, regional warfare, and the ongoing struggle for security and justice.

Core Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

  1. Trace the historical origins of the modern Middle Eastern state system, analyzing how the legacies of Ottoman collapse, colonial mandates, and arbitrary borders continue to influence contemporary politics.

  2. Analyze the role of competing ideologies (Arab nationalism, Zionism, Political Islam) and identities (sectarian, ethnic, tribal) in shaping political mobilization and state-building projects.

  3. Evaluate the institutional foundations and adaptive strategies of authoritarian regimes, including the central role of oil wealth as explained by rentier state theory.

  4. Explain the causes, trajectories, and divergent outcomes of the 2011 Arab Uprisings and subsequent waves of protest and conflict.

  5. Assess the complex dynamics of regional conflicts (e.g., Israel-Palestine, civil wars in Syria, Yemen) and the role of armed non-state actors and external intervention.

  6. Synthesize themes of human security, including migration, gender, and external influence, to form a holistic understanding of challenges facing regional populations.

  7. Apply comparative analysis by drawing parallels and distinctions between political processes in the MENA region and the Horn of Africa.

Course Structure & Key Topics:
The course is organized into ten thematic chapters:

  1. Historical Legacies & State Formation

  2. Nationalism, Identity & State-Building

  3. Religion, Sectarianism, and Political Islam

  4. Authoritarianism & Regime Types

  5. Political Economy, Oil, and the Rentier State

  6. State–Society Relations and Social Movements

  7. The Arab Uprisings and Their Aftermath

  8. Israel–Palestine and Regional Conflict Dynamics

  9. Civil Wars and Armed Non-State Actors

  10. External Powers, Migration, Gender, and Human Security

Primary Mode of Instruction:
The course employs a combination of lecture, structured seminar discussion based on weekly readings, case study analysis, and student presentations. Each chapter includes a “Comparative Insight” linking MENA themes to the Horn of Africa.

Assessment (Recommended):

  • Midterm Examination: 25% (Covering Chapters 1-5)

  • Final Research Paper or Examination: 35%

  • Group Presentation & Case Study Analysis: 25%

  • Class Participation & Reflection Questions: 15%

Text:
Core readings will be drawn from seminal and contemporary political science scholarship, including works referenced in each chapter’s bibliography (e.g., Gelvin, The Modern Middle East; Lynch, The Arab Uprising; Bellin, The Robustness of Authoritarianism; Heydemann, Networks of Privilege).

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