Middle Eastern Politics and Societies

The course is aimed at discussing important current political and social phenomena and processes in the Middle Eastern region. After several introductory meetings the participants of the course discuss the issues concerning, firstly, the domestic and foreign policy of the Middle Eastern states, and, secondly, key questions referring to the societies of these countries.

The course is aimed at discussing important current political and social phenomena and processes in the Middle Eastern region. After several introductory meetings, within which the participants of the course obtain the general knowledge of the region, they discuss the issues concerning, firstly, the domestic politics of the Middle Eastern states and their foreign policy, and, secondly, key questions referring to the societies of these countries. In the former case it is about the political regime and political (party) system, relationship between religion - Islam and politics, the role of nationalism as well as about the regional diplomacy, wars and conflicts. In the latter case the students discuss such issues as religiousness and political culture of the Middle Eastern societies or the role of the civil society in the political systems.

Angrist M.P. (ed.), Politics and Society in the Contemporary Middle East, Lynne Rienner 2019.

Baban F., Nationalism and the crisis of community in the Middle East, Dialectical Anthropology. 2018, 42:351–357.

Cavatorta F. and L. Storm (eds.), Political Parties in the Arab World: Continuity and Change, Edinburgh University Press 2018.

Cerny K., and P. Jones (eds.), Instability in the Middle East: Structural Changes and Uneven Modernisation 1950-2015, Karolinum Press 2017.

Espositp J.L., L.Z. Rahim and N. Ghobadzadeh (eds.), The Politics of Islamism. Diverging Paths and Trajectories, Palgrave Macmillan 2018.

Esposito J.L., T. Sonn and J.O. Voll, Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring, Oxford University Press 2016.

Haddad F., Sectarian identity and national identity in the Middle East, Nations and Nationalism. 2020, 26:123–137.

Härdig A.C., Beyond the Arab revolts: conceptualizing civil society in the Middle East and North Africa, Democratization. 2015, 22:1131-1153.

Hoffman, V.J., Making the New Middle East: Politics, Culture, and Human Rights, Syracuse University Press 2019.

Iosifidis P. and M. Wheeler, Public Spheres and Mediated Social Networks in the Western Context and Beyond, Palgrave Macmillan 2016.

Saikal A. (ed.), The Arab World and Iran. A Turbulent Region in Transition, Palgrave Macmillan 2016.

Schmitter P.C. and N. Sika, Democratization in the Middle East and North Africa: A More Ambidextrous Process? Mediterranean Politics. 2017, 22:443-463.

Sørli M.E, N. P. Gleditsch and H. Strand, Why Is There so Much Conflict in the Middle East?, The Journal of Conflict Resolution. 2005, 49:141-165 .

Tessler M. (ed.), Islam and Politics in the Middle East: Explaining the Views of Ordinary Citizens, Indiana University Press 2015.

The Global State of Democracy 2019. Addressing the Ills, Reviving the Promise, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2019.

Tucker S., Modern Conflict in the Greater Middle East: A Country-by-Country Guide, ABC-CLIO 2017.

Wheeler D.L., Digital Resistance in the Middle East: New Media Activism in Everyday Life, Edinburgh University Press 2017.

Yıldırım A.K., Muslim Democratic Parties in the Middle East. Economy and Politics of Islamist Moderation, Indiana University Press 2016.

Student should:

Knowledge:

1. Be able to characterize the determinants of the political and social situation in the Middle Eastern states and their foreign policy (K_W04)

2. Be able to characterize the political, social, religious and cultural structures and their changes in the Middle East (K_W05)

3. Be able to characterize the working of elements of the political system of the Middle Eastern states in a comparative perspective and the regional international system (K_W06)

4. Be able to characterize the (de-)democratization process in the Middle East and the elements of the political culture (K_W07)

5. Be able to characterize the decision making and governance mechanisms in the Middle Eastern countries (K_W11).

Skills:

1. Be able to identify the reasons and course of the political phenomena and processes in the Middle East as well as predict their future developments (K_U01)

2. Be able to use the theoretical knowledge to analyze the Middle Eastern politics and societies in the countries of the region (K_U02)

3. Be able to define the role of different elements of the political system and political culture in shaping the political regime in the Middle Eastern countries (K_U03)

4. Have foreign language skills in political science according to requirements at the B1 ESOKJ level (K_U12)

Social competences:

1. Be able to critically observe and assess the political and social phenomena in the Middle East as well as show the relationship between them (K_K03)

Assessment depends on the fulfillment of the following requirements:

1. active participation – 40% of the final grade

2. writing successfully the final written exam consisted of quiz and open questions – 60% of the final grade