Undergraduate - UnitATS2698 - Middle east politics: Continuity, change, conflict and co-operation

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Politics
Offered	Clayton First semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Ben MacQueen

Notes

Previously coded PLT2460

Synopsis

This subject will examine the interplay of external and internal factors in shaping the modern political environment of the Middle East. Starting with an overview of the establishment of the state system during and after the colonial period, this unit examines, in depth, the emergence of the modern state system, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Middle East during the Cold War, the repeated conflicts in Afghanistan, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, external intervention such as the 1990-91 Gulf War and the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the unrest that has swept the region since early 2011. In addition, this unit will unpack key thematic issues such as political Islam, democratisation, and human rights.

Outcomes

By the end of their study of this subject, students will have:

Deepened their understanding of the relationship between the great powers and Middle Eastern societies.
Understood the significance of major events for relations between the Muslim Middle East and the West, primarily the United States.
Identified, analysed and evaluated the dynamics of relations between the internal politics of the Middle East and external factors.
Gained sufficient information and research skills to formulate their own essay questions.
Developed their own views on the prospects of relations between the Muslim Middle East and the United States.
Gained a holistic appreciation of international relations and will be in a position to apply that analytical tool to the study of other international relations units.
Improved their written skills by producing two well-reasoned and well-documented essays.