ATS2858 · Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

Overview

In this unit, you will examine the interplay of external and internal factors in shaping the modern political environment of the Middle East and North Africa. Starting with an overview of the establishment of the state system during and after the colonial period, you will examine the emergence of the modern state system including patterns of authoritarian and semi-authoritarian governance in the region. You will also explore the interplay between political economy, ideology and identity politics and the impacts of foreign intervention alongside specific issues such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, uprisings and conflict in the region since 2010, nuclear proliferation and security issues, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and others.

Areas of study: International relations Politics

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. illustrate and analyse the impacts of historical, political, economic and social pressures on the current political dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa;
2. identify, analyse and evaluate the dynamics of relations between the internal politics of the Middle East and external factors;
3. engage constructively in debates on controversial and sensitive topics in both oral and written formats relating to the politics of the Middle East and North Africa;
4. comprehend and engage constructively with current affairs, scholarly articles and books in the field of Middle Eastern and North African Studies, and place them in an appropriate theoretical and empirical context;
5. apply theoretical perspectives and concepts to illuminate and examine a new or existing problem in the study of Middle Eastern and North African politics.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.