Political Economy of the Middle East (6SSJM300) Semesters: 1 & 2

Transcription

1 Political Economy of the Middle East (6SSJM300) Semesters: 1 & 2 Available to: any 3 rd -year students in EIS Credits: 30 Module convenor: Dr Ferdinand Eibl Assessment: one 4,000-word essay (50%) and one three-hour exam (50%) What is the role of the state in Arab economies? How have socio-economic factors affected the Arab spring? How has oil wealth affected economic development and politics in the Middle East? How have Middle Eastern economies adapted to globalisation? The course seeks to answer these questions by critically examining theoretical approaches in the field of political economy and applying them to the Middle East. The first part of the course will illuminate single country case studies by using the tools of comparative political economy and thereby familiarize students with a wide range of country cases. In order to situate the Arab cases in the wider field of comparative political economy, we will use various conceptions of state-society relations and test their applicability in the Arab context, such as the rentier state, the developmental state, and crony capitalism. We will also hold one session on political economy perspectives on democratization and authoritarianism to see what they tell us about the Arab Spring. The second part will use perspectives on international political economy to examine the Arab states position in the global economy. We will look at oil, trade, finance, foreign direct investment, labour and migration, and poverty. On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to demonstrate: A. Knowledge and understanding by being able to: 1. Critically assess the political and economic forces that determine the development process in Middle Eastern countries. 2. Apply the theories and methods of comparative and international political economy to the Arab world. 3. Appreciate the relationship between political reforms and democratization and economic development. B. Intellectual, practical, affective and transferable skills by being able to: 4. Apply rigorous political economy theories to the political and economies realities in the Middle East. 5. By writing assignments, presenting in class, and by participating in class discussion, students will develop skills of analytical and integrative thinking, and learn to communicate effectively and creatively. 6. Students will develop their research skills by improving their literacy of socio-economic indicators and by using primary sources, e.g. speeches, wikileaks cables etc.

2 1. Introduction 2. The historical development of Middle Eastern economies 3. Comparative political economy: Institutions, governance, development 4. Rentier states: The Gulf Arab states 5. Semi-rentier state: Jordan 6. Unruly neoliberalism vs. developmental state : Tunisia 7. State-business relations and crony capitalism: Egypt and Syria 8. Greed and grievance: Civil war economies in Lebanon and Iraq 9. The Dubai model 10. The economic roots of the Arab uprisings 11. Political economy of communalism: Lebanon, Jordan, and Yemen 12. Political economy of war and conflict: Egypt and Iran 13. Introduction: International political economy and globalization 14. Oil and the Arab world: dependency or autonomy? 15. The Bretton Woods institutions: IMF and World Bank in the Middle East 16. Free trade: Regional integration vs. global trade 17. Foreign direct investment 18. Labour and migration 19. Poverty and inequality 20. The Middle East in global finance Religion and Politics of the Middle East (6SSJM100) Semesters: 1 & 2 Available to: any 3 rd -year students in EIS (but may not be taken alongside Rethinking Political Islam [6SSJM150]) Credits: 30 Module convenor: Dr Charis Boutieri Assessment: one 4,000-word essay (50%) and one three-hour exam (50%) This module analyses the dynamic relationship and intersection of religion and politics in the contemporary Middle East. It explores the diverse ways in which religion manifests itself politically, beyond sectarianism and political Islamism, through empirically rich case studies and comparative perspectives. It addresses themes of religion and secularism, religious nationalism, and jihad and violence, locating them within broader political processes of state building, resistance and ethnoreligious conflict. The module provides an initial overview of the Middle East's religious and political landscape, examining the religious plurality and volatility of the region and the rise of political Islam. It then explores how Islamist movements have shaped state formation (Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia), fuelled revolution (Iran), violent jihad (al-qaeda and ISIS) and resistance (Hizbullah and Hamas). The module then turns to focus on religion's role in regional security, peace-building and sectarian conflict; utilising a variety of theoretical perspectives to explore ongoing contestation over sacred

3 sites, symbols and religious identities. Finally, the module addresses how religion and politics converge over key thematic social issues in the region such as gender, education, civic rights and the media. This module offers students an expansive and critical overview of how religion and politics impact state, society and international relations in the Middle East. On successful completion of this module the student should be able to demonstrate the following: A solid understanding of the major scholarly debates over the role of religion in Middle Eastern politics An ability to apply these debates to their own analysis of the following topics: the infusion of nationalism with religious discourse and symbolism; the impact of religion on political identity formation; the position of religious minorities in the region; conflict over sacred space; gender, education and the media. An understanding of the political, economic and societal impact of the religiously-informed politics within the region and beyond. An ability to critically analyse the role of religio-political discourse and symbolism in relation to the major scholarly debates and case studies. Analytical, written and presentational skills using primary sources and through the discussion and presentation of original work A capacity to form and articulate policy-relevant opinions through comparative analysis of case studies 1. The Middle Eastern Religious and Political Scene 2. Understanding Political Islam: Terminologies, Typologies and Historical Trajectories 3. Religion and Secularism 4. Religious Minorities of the Middle East 5. The Muslim Brotherhood in the Region 6. Jews, Zionism and Israel 7. Founding an Islamic State: Saudi Wahhabism 8. Khomeini and the Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) in Iran 9. Palestinian Islamic Resistance: Hamas 10. Contesting Sacred Sites and Spaces 11. Global Jihadism and the War on Terror 12. Democracy between Islamism and Secularism in Modern Tunisia 13. Islam and the Algerian Civil War ( ) 14. The Profiles of Islamist Activists 15. The Role of Religion in Turkey's Contemporary Kurdish Politics 16. Religion, Conflict Resolution and Peace-Building 17. Islamic Revival and the Gender Paradox 18. Education, Religion & Modernity 19. Authoritarian Rulers, Religion & Social Power 20. Post-Islamism: Future Challenges

4 International Relations of the Middle East (6SSJM200) Semesters: 1 & 2 Available to: any 3 rd -year students in EIS Credits: 30 Module convenor: Dr Michael Farquhar Assessment: one 4,000-word essay (50%) and one three-hour exam (50%) This module offers an introduction to the international relations of the modern Middle East. It begins by exploring the insertion of Middle Eastern societies into the politics of European imperialism in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; the emergence and consolidation of a new system of nation states, particularly in the aftermath of World War I; and the ways in which new state institutions and forms of collective identity contributed to remaking the politics of the region. It goes on to consider the various types of regimes which took shape in the Middle East in the course of the twentieth century, with an eye to their key characteristics, the challenges that have been mounted against them, and the nature of their interactions with states beyond the region. It also explores the role of cultural factors, non-state actors and economic relations in constituting the regional political order. In developing these themes, the module considers how economic, social and political transformations in the region have both been driven by and have shaped the place of Middle Eastern states in the international system, in the process seeking to draw out the many ways in which relations between states are intimately bound up with transnational and domestic dynamics. On successful completion of this module the student should be able to demonstrate the following: a strong understanding and appreciation of major scholarly debates concerning the international relations of the Middle East and state-building processes in the region an ability to apply these debates to their own analysis of the following topics: the emergence of a new political order in the post-world War I period; the different regime types that exist in the region; the internal and external challenges mounted against Middle Eastern states face; and the ways in which these challenges have shaped their foreign policy orientations an understanding of the political, historical and societal factors which influence relations between the West and states and societies in the Middle East analytical, written and presentational skills, including the capacity to engage critically with primary sources, and to present and discuss original work a capacity to form and articulate policy-relevant opinions through comparative analysis of case studies 1. Introductory Session 2. Applying IR Theory to the Middle East

5 3. The Politics of Empire 4. State-Formation 5. The Emergence of Nationalisms 6. The Era of Radical Pan-Arabism 7. The Resilience of Authoritarianism 8. Conflict in Israel/Palestine 9. Monarchies and Their Interactions 10. Militaries and Militarisation 11. Domestic Security and the Question of the Police State 12. Democratisation 13. Islam in the Nation-State System 14. Tribe, Clan and Ethnicity 15. The Political Economy of Oil 16. Civil Society 17. The US in the Middle East 18. The Quest for a Kurdish State 19. Globalisation 20. The Arab Uprisings, ISIS and Beyond Rethinking Political Islam (6SSJM150) Semester: 2 Available to: any 3 rd -year students in EIS (but may not be taken alongside Religion and Politics of the Middle East [6SSJM100]) Credits: 15 Module convenor: Dr Michael Farquhar Assessment: seminar participation (10%), a 1,000-word critical book review (20%), a final 3,000- word essay (70%) This module introduces students to key debates about the nature and characteristics of political Islam. While grounded in a political science approach, it draws on a variety of other disciplines (including history, anthropology, sociology, religious studies and international relations) to provide a diverse set of analytical tools for making sense of this complex and multifaceted phenomenon. The course is structured around a set of themes which are central to understanding the relationship between Islam and contemporary politics. The choice of themes takes in debates about the role of Islam in regard to the state, political ideology, popular political activism, and political violence. At the same time, the chosen themes also account for the ways in which Islam may be implicated in politics as it plays out in other dimensions of social life, including gender relations, the market and identity construction. Along the way, the course will examine key Islamist movements and currents, and students will be invited to engage directly with works authored by influential Islamist thinkers of recent decades. The course concludes by considering possible future trajectories of political Islam, at a moment in history when the declaration by some influential social scientists that Islamism is

6 essentially a spent project is juxtaposed with the rise of a self-declared Islamic State ruling territory spanning Syria and Iraq. The module rejects simplistic readings of political Islam, instead seeking to open up critical questions about the diverse, complex and shifting ways in which Islam may intersect with politics in today s world. By the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate transferable intellectual and practicable skills appropriate to a level 6 module and in particular will be able to: critically assess the major scholarly debates surrounding contemporary political Islam in its militant and non-militant forms apply rigorous theory to comparative case studies of political Islam develop a capacity to ask relevant, substantive and probing questions of political Islam in relation to the state, regional politics, and Western policy and interventionism develop and strengthen a range of relevant skills including empirical and normative research abilities, the capacity to engage critically with primary sources, and analytical and written skills through the discussion and presentation of original work demonstrate a capacity to form opinions through comparative analysis and discourse analysis regarding Islamism 1. Conceptualising Political Islam 2. Islamist Movements: Analytical Frameworks 3. Islamic States 4. Democracy 5. Political Violence 6. Modernity and Globalisation 7. Gender 8. Transnationalism 9. Salafism 10. The Failure of Political Islam? Social Movements and Collective Protest (6SSJ0001) Semester: 1 Available to: any 3 rd -year students in EIS Credits: 15 Module convenor: Dr Neil Ketchley Assessment: one 4,000-word essay (100%) (preceded by a 1,000-word formative essay)

7 When do ordinary people take to the streets, in defiance of powerful actors and authorities? How do protestors choose their tactics? When does their collective action fail and when does it succeed? What methods and sources can social scientists draw on to study contentious collective action and its protagonists? This module takes up these and other questions using theories and case studies from political sociology and comparative politics. Lectures and seminar readings range widely in subject matter from the diffusion of suicide protest to the social backgrounds of rioters. The emphasis is on familiarising students with the dynamics of social movements and collective protest in a variety of contexts. By the end of the module students will have: Acquired the competences to select and critically apply a range of theoretical approaches from the fields of political sociology and comparative politics A familiarity with empirical research that draws on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies A deep understanding of the different dynamics of social movements and collective protest in a variety of contexts The capacity to analyse episodes of contentious collective action and assess their ability to influence the political process It will also provide students with a range of core transferable skills: The capacity to analyse and explain competing theories, concepts, frameworks and empirical evidence The ability to think independently and to address complex problems through the application of different conceptual and analytical toolkits The development and formulation of personal views and arguments, and the ability to present and communicate these concisely to peers The identification and sourcing of secondary literature and primary research material in the relevant area The organisation and time management of assessed and non-assessed work to clear deadlines 1. Social movements 2. Repertoires of contention 3. Ecologies of activism 4. Diffusion 5. Repression 6. Democratization 7. Elite-led protest 8. Revolution 9. Terror 10. Sources of protest

8 The Politics of Tolerance in Liberal States (6SSJM500) Semester: 2 Available to: any 3 rd -year students in EIS Credits: 15 Module convenor: Prof. Donald Searing Assessment: one 4,000-word essay (100%) (preceded by a 1,000-word formative essay) The course has two goals, one normative, the other empirical. The first aims to build a philosophical foundation of principles and concepts for identifying, evaluating, and responding to examples of intolerance. The second seeks to explain intolerance empirically using theories and hypotheses from different social science disciplines. Thus, the first part of the course uses moral commentaries from John Locke to the present to organize discussions about concrete examples of intolerance in the European Union and North America. The second part examines political and psychological variables that are widely used in cross-national explanations of intolerance. We consider controversies involving: race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political ideology and multiculturalism. In the context of these controversies, we investigate the following topics: the assumption of fallibilism; the limits of toleration; challenges posed by nationalism, religious fundamentalism, political extremism and authoritarian populism; and sources of intolerance in psychology, society and the state. By the end of the module students will be able to: Recognize instances of political intolerance in contemporary states Identify the key political, social and psychological issues involved in these instances Make valid comparisons with other instances of political intolerance in their own country and abroad Analyse and explain the sources of these instances of intolerance by applying macro and micro level social science theories Evaluate the perceived justifications for the intolerance and suggest strategies for addressing it Discuss such instances clearly, civilly and confidently with other citizens It will also provide students with a range of core transferable skills: The capacity to analyse and explain competing theories, concepts, frameworks and empirical evidence The ability to think independently and to address complex problems through the application of different conceptual and analytical toolkits The development and formulation of personal views and arguments, and the ability to present and communicate these concisely to peers

9 The identification and sourcing of secondary literature and primary research material in the relevant area The organisation and time management of assessed and non-assessed work to clear deadlines 1. Introduction. What is Tolerance? Locke and Mill 2. Five Regimes of Toleration 3. Identity Politics and Toleration 4. Anthropological Explanations: State and Religion in France 5. Communalism and Toleration 6. Multiculturalism in the Netherlands 7. Psychological Explanations: Social Identity Theory 8. The State and Toleration: Nazi Germany 9. Morality, Politics and Religion 10. Cosmopolitanism, Nationalism and Immigration