COURSE UNIT TITLE

: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
UIR 4101 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST ELECTIVE 3 0 0 5

Offered By

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SEVILAY ZEHRA AKSOY

Offered to

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Course Objective

This course aims to introduce learners to the international relations of the Middle East. In this context, the post-Ottoman period will be analyzed with particular respect to the Western colonialism, the processes of decolonization and state formation, the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, the peace process, the international politics of the Gulf, and oil politics.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   To identify the involvement of external actors in the Middle East in order to assess the strategic significance of the region in world politics.
2   To recognize the impact of colonial rule on domestic and regional politics in order to understand the persistent nature of conflictual relations at both domestic and regional level of analyses.
3   To demonstrate detailed understanding of the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts in order to recognize their multi-dimensional and persistent nature.
4   To demonstrate understanding of the Middle East peace process in order to assess the likelihood of the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
5   To describe and explain the post-WWII developments in the Persian Gulf (e.g. the Iranian revolution, Iran-Iraq war, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq War) in order to reveal the complex and clashing interests of the concerned regional and external actors.
6   To identify the role played by hydrocarbons in the domestic and external relations of mainly the Gulf countries in order to explain the 'rentier' nature as well as the dependent status of those countries.
7   To use and develop the skill to make power-point presentations in classroom.
8   To develop the skill to engage in discussions with the rest of co-learners as well as the lecturer.
9   To develop the skill to get access independently to the relevant sources, including IR and media material.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 The conceptual definition and significance of the Middle East
2 Western colonialism in the Middle East in the post-WWI era: features of the colonial rule and the state-making in the Middle East - I
3 Western colonialism in the Middle East in the post-WWI era: features of the colonial rule and the state-making in the Middle East - II
4 State formation and international behaviour - I
5 State formation and international behaviour - II
6 The Arab-Israeli conflict: Wars (1948-1967)
7 The Arab-Israeli conflict: Wars (1970-1990)
8 The Palestinian-Israeli conflict
9 Peace deals: Madrid and Oslo
10 Peace deals: the post-Oslo period
11 The international politics of the Gulf
12 The political economy of dependency: oil

Recomended or Required Reading

Various book chapters, articles and media material. TBA

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Presentation
Participation

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 PRS Presentation
3 PRT Participation
4 FN Final
5 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MT * 0.35 + PRS * 0.20 + PRT * 0.10 + FN * 0.35
6 RST RESIT
7 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MT * 0.35 + PRS * 0.20 + PRT * 0.10 + BUT * 0.35


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1. To describe and explain the impact of Western colonial rule on the state- and nation-building processes and regional politics of the Middle East.
2. To describe and explain the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, and the peace process.
3. To describe and explain some of the major post-WWII developments in the Persian Gulf region involving external actors.
4. To describe and explain the domestic, regional and international dimensions of oil politics.
5. To use IT knowledge to prepare power-point presentations.
6. To be able to express views in clear, precise and self-confident manner.
7. To use library and internet sources.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Expected to attend at least 70% of the classes.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Participation in class discussions is required.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

sevilayz.aksoy@deu.edu.tr
0232-3018205

Office Hours

to be announced later.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 12 3 36
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 12 5 60
Preparation for midterm exam 1 10 10
Preparation for final exam 1 10 10
Preparing presentations 1 5 5
Midterm 1 1,5 2
Final 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 125

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13
LO.15
LO.25
LO.35
LO.45
LO.55
LO.65
LO.75
LO.85
LO.93

CONTACT INFORMATION
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Phone: +90(232) 412 12 12 - Fax: +90 (232) 464 81 35

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