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An introduction to the crisis-ridden affairs of the Middle East and North Africa, including spillover into the wider world. Political regimes and sources of war and terrorism across the region.
The main concepts and themes covered in the paper include the nature and impacts of tyranny, the drivers of conflict and the struggle for political participation. The course also explores the opportunities and threats to Middle Eastern societies, including the economic, environmental, social-demographic, political and geopolitical problems faced by overwhelmingly youthful populations in this vital region positioned at the centre of global affairs.
| Paper title | Politics of the Middle East |
|---|---|
| Paper code | POLS210 |
| Subject | Politics |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $913.95 |
| International Tuition Fees (NZD) | $4,073.40 |
- Prerequisite
- One 100-level POLS paper or 72 points
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
- An interest in national and international affairs is an advantage.
- Contact
- politics@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
- Textbooks
Highly recommended reading:
Monshipouri, Mahmoud, (2019). Middle East Politics: Changing Dynamics, Routledge
Supplementary readings:
- Hinnebusch, R. & Gani, J. (eds.) The Routledge Handbook to the Middle East and North African State and States System (2019).
- Harris, W. The Levant: A Fractured Mosaic. 4th edition, Markus Wiener (2015)
- Sadiki, Larbi (ed.) Routledge Handbook of the Arab Spring: Rethinking Democratization (2015).
- Rowe, Paul (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Minorities in the Middle East (2018)
- Harris, W. Quicksilver War: Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict (2018)
- Gasiorowski, M and Yom, S (eds.) The Government and Politics of the Middle East. 8th edition, Westview (2016)
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical
thinking, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will acquire
- Reliable and balanced empirical knowledge of the political structures and actors of the Middle East
- An emerging theoretical capacity for explaining and interpreting the politics of a crucial region to global affairs
