COURSE UNIT TITLE

: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Description of Individual Course Units

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

Offered By

International Relations (English)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SEVILAY ZEHRA AKSOY

Offered to

Political Science and International Relations (English)
International Relations (English)

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 process: The post-Oslo period
11 The international politics of the Gulf I
12 The international politics of the Gulf II
13 The political economy of dependency: Oil
14 The rentier state

Recomended or Required Reading

Various book chapters, articles and media material. TBA

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Lecture
2. Presentation
3. Participation

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 PRS PRESENTATION
2 FIN FINAL EXAM
3 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE
4 RST RESIT
5 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT)


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

I. In the exam:

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.

II. Assessment Criteria for Presentation

Evidence of preparation for the presentation (power-point slides, notes, etc.) (25 points)

The work appeared to be done at the last minute; visual aids were either very insufficient or not used at all - Poor (%5)
The work showed some evidence of preparation, but slides include very long paragraphs that distract attention - Fair (%50)
The work was well-prepared and designed; visual aids were clear, to the point and helpful for the comprehension of the subject - Good (%75)
Exceptional effort was put into preparation and design; the additional visual aids (such as tables, graphs, maps and short videos) significantly enriched the presentation - Excellent (%100)

Organization of the presentation (Introduction, content and conclusion) (15 points)

The work was poorly organized, ideas were presented randomly - Poor (%5)
The presentation was generally organized but lacked logical clarity - Fair (%40)
The presentation had a clear introduction, body and conclusion - Good (%70)
The presentation, involving a unique blend of ideas in the sources, was exceptionally logical and well-organized - Excellent (%100)

Understanding of the assigned material (40 points)

Serious lacking or mistakes in the presentation of ideas/information in the material - Poor (%5)
At least half of the most important points in the material were presented - Fair (%60)
Most of the important points in the material were presented - Very good (%80)
The presentation reflects the breadth and depth of the presenter's review of the material - Excellent (%100)

Verbal articulation (10 points)

The audience had difficulty in understanding the presenter - Poor (%5)
Ideas were stated but lacked clarity - Fair (%50)
Ideas were explained well - Very good (%75)
Excellent and clear articulation of major and minor points - Excellent (%100)

Keeping the audience engaged (10 points)

The presenting style was dull and monotonous; the presenter generally read the slides in an often hurried manner - Poor (%10)
The presenter, while focusing on the slides, tried to make an occasional eye contact with the audience and asked them at least one question - Fair (%50)
The presenter generally used the slides and notes as a reference and mostly focused on sharing his/her knowledge by means of active communication with the audience - Very good (%80)
The presenter used his/her voice, body, selection of words, and pauses effectively to engage each individual in the audience and to ensure that ideas were understood well - Excellent (%100)

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

Office Hours

to be announced later.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 3 42
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 14 3 42
Preparation for final exam 1 24 24
Preparing presentations 1 24 24
Final 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 134

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