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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 265"
COURSE NAME: "History and Politics of the Middle East"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Pejman Abdolmohammadi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 6:00 PM 7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 223; Recommended: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Ottoman Empire to the establishment of the modern nations in the Middle East, the course will examine the place of the Middle Eastern system of states in the world system, how it fares, how did it get where it is today and how do global trends intrude into the region. The role of Islam in both international and domestic politics will be considered with special attention given to the historical tradition of Islam as a political movement and as an identitary expression.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course is divided into two sections: a) the first part is devoted to Islamic political history, from the emergence of the Prophet Mohammad in seventh-century Arabia, followed by the Arab Caliphate (Omayya – Abbasids), through to the Safawid and Ottoman Empires. Basic concepts such as shari’ah, fiqhjihadumma, sunna, shi’a, caliphate, imamate and sultanate are studied, with particular regard to their political role in the Islamic context; b) the second part examines the political institutions of  Middle Eastern countries in the contemporary era, with specific focus on the Middle East and North African States.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
LEARNING OUTCOMES: 
Students who have successfully completed the course will: -- have thorough knowledge of this historical period, especially regarding the growth of Islam and the social and cultural worlds of the Mamluk and Ottoman eras. -- be able to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to understand medieval and modern political and social processes in the Middle East -- be able to express their own critical views on historical developments in Middle East -- have improved their writing skills -- have improved their critical reading skills
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
State, Power, Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle EastRoger OwenRoutledge 0-203-40325-8      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The Rise and Fall of Arab Presidents for LifeRoger OwenHarvard College9780674065833  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm exam 25%
Final exam 35%
Paper 20%
presentation 10%
class participationactive participation in classroom discussions, including responses to presentations by other studente. 10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Only three classes may be missed. Further absences will result in the deduction of one letter grade from the final letter grade. So for example a B+ become a C+.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

1. Mon. 13 Jan. Welcome Session and Brief Introduction to the Middle Eatern Studies.

 2. Wed. 15 Jan. The end of empires: the emergence of modern Middle Eastern States

 3. Mon.   20 Jan. The break up of the Ottoman Empire

4. Wed.   22 Jan. The Political practices of a colonial state

5. Mon.   27 Jan. The creation of centralized state systems in Turkey and Iran

6. Wed.   29 Jan. The growth of state power in the Arab world.

7.  Mon. 3 Feb. The single-party regimes

8. Wed. 5 Feb. Politics in an authoritarian state

9. Mon. 10 Feb. The growth of state power in the Arab world under family rule

10. Wed. 12 Feb. The politics of royal family rule in Jordan and Morocco

11. Mon. 17 Feb.The practice of family rule: Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states

12. Wed. 19 Feb. MIDTERM EXAM

13.  Mon.  24 Feb. Arab nationalism, Arab unity and the practice of intra-Arab state relations

14.  Mon.  26 Feb. The new Arab states: between cooperation and competition

15.  Mon. 3 Mar. The role of Israel and the Palestinians in intra-Arab relations

16. Wed. 5 Mar. State and politics in Israel from the Second World War

17. Mon. 10 Mar.State and politics in Turkey

18. Wed. 12 Mar.  State and politics in Iran from Reza Shah unito the Revolution of 1979.

19. Mon. 24 Mar. The remaking of the Middle Eastern political environment between the two Gulf Wars

20. Wed. 26 Mar. The major Arab republics

21. Mon. 31 Mar. Themes in contemporary Middle Eastern politics:
The politics of economic restructuring

22. Wed. 2 apr. The limits of oil wealth: encouraging private profit in
Syria, Iraq and Jordan

23. Mon. 7 apr. Focus: The Islamic Republic of Iran and the  Persian civil society

24. Mon. 9 apr. Focus : 'Arabi Spring' or 'Islamic awaking: Egyptian and Tunisian cases

25. Mon. 14 apr. Focus:Syrian political crisis and the new balance of power in Middle East.