2.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course will focus on a number of concepts and key issues in international relations in the specific context of the Middle East. While being attentive to the historical dimension of the international relations of the Middle East and the foreign policies of external powers towards the region, issues to be examined on the basis of concrete case studies in (or from) the Middle East include borders and regional order, interests and identity politics, conflicts and wars, terrorism and political violence, the prominent “clash of civilizations” thesis, the conundrum of political reforms, and the issue of energy resources. Students are expected to produce and present research papers on specific case studies pertaining to the international relations of the Middle East, which will be discussed in class. A prerequisite for this course is a sound background in International Relations theory and a good background in Middle East history and politics. This is a two-credit course, which can be taken as an extra two-credit course, or coupled with another two-credit course in DC.