At the end of this course, the students; 1) Obtain knowledge on democracy, government-opposition relations, religion-state relations, population growth, urbanization, political economy, identity politics, civil society, and gender by focusing on state-society relations in the Middle East.
2) Analyze the above-mentioned concepts comparatively in the Middle East and North African countries (Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Algeria, the Palestinian Authority and Israel) and apply this knowledge. 3) Achieve a comprehensive knowledge about state-society relations in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
4) By applying the aforementioned comparative politics concepts in no. 1 to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa improve their analytical and critical thinking and discussion abilities.
5) Attains the necessary knowledge for pursuing an internship and a career planning in the field of the Middle East and North Africa.
MODE OF DELIVERY
Face to face
PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
No
RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL PROGRAMME COMPONENT
No recommended optional programme components.
COURSE DEFINITION
This course provides an overview of contemporary Middle East politics by focusing the relationship between state and society. The first part of the course gives students a general idea about the state and society relations in the Middle East by focusing on democracy, government and opposition, religion and politics, population growth, urbanization, political economy, identity politics, civil society, and gender. The second part of the course analyzes state and society relations through these concepts in the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Algeria, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel).
COURSE CONTENTS
WEEK
TOPICS
1st Week
Introduction to the Course
2nd Week
Democracy, Government and Opposition, and Religion and Politics in the Middle East
3rd Week
Population Growth, Urbanization, and Political Economy in the Middle East
4th Week
Identity Politics and Civil Society in the Middle East
5th Week
Gender in the Middle East
6th Week
Egypt
7th Week
Jordan
8th Week
Mid-term Exam
9th Week
Iran I
10th Week
Iran II
11th Week
Algeria
12th Week
The Palestinian Authority
13th Week
Israel
14th Week
Review
RECOMENDED OR REQUIRED READING
Required Readings Jillian Schwedler and Deborah J. Gerner (eds.), Understanding the Contemporary Middle East 3rd ed. (Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008). (On reserve at Başkent University library) Nils A. Butenschon, Uri Davis, and Manuel Hassassian (eds.), Citizenship and the State in the Middle East: Approaches and Applications (New York: Syracuse University Press, 2000). (On reserve at Başkent University library) Paul Aarts and Francesco Cavatorta (eds.), Civil Society in Syrian & Iran: Activism in Authoritarian Contexts (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2013). (On reserve at Başkent University library) Michele Penner Angrist (ed.), Politics & Society in the Contemporary Middle East (Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2010). (Selected chapters are on Moodle web-site) Quintan Wiktorowicz, The Management of Islamic Activism: Salafis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and State Power in Jordan (New York: SUNY Press, 2001) (On reserve at Başkent University library) Carrie Rosefsky Wickham, Mobilizing Islam: Religion, Activism, and Political Change in Egypt (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002) (On reserve at Başkent University library)
PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Lecture,Discussion,Questions/Answers
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA
Quantity
Percentage(%)
Mid-term
1
30
Assignment
1
5
Project
1
25
Total(%)
60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)
60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)
40
Total(%)
100
ECTS WORKLOAD
Activities
Number
Hours
Workload
Midterm exam
1
1,5
1,5
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work
14
2
28
Preparation for Final exam
1
35
35
Course hours
14
3
42
Preparation for Midterm exam
1
20
20
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
1
1,5
1,5
Homework
1
5
5
Project
1
20
20
Total Workload
153
Total Workload / 30
5,1
ECTS Credits of the Course
5
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
English
WORK PLACEMENT(S)
No
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES (KLO) / MATRIX OF LEARNING OUTCOMES (LO)
