POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
1
Department of Political Science and Public Administration
POS 354-01: Power and Politics in the Middle East
Fall 2012
TR 2:00-3:15
Instructor: Dr. David Faris
Office: AUD 759
Email: dfaris@roosevelt.edu
Office Phone: 312-341-3512
Office Hours: Mondays, 1-2 p.m., Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment
Course Description:
This course introduces the formal and informal institutions, histories, cultures, and economic
systems of the contemporary Middle East. Students will weigh in on the most controversial and
difficult questions about politics in the Middle East, including the effect of oil wealth on
domestic institutions, the role of political Islam in Egypt and Tunisia, the persistence of
authoritarianism in countries like Iran, and the causes of the recent upheavals that have
become known as the Arab Spring. By demystifying politics in the Middle East, the course seeks
to build an understanding of the region and its diverse inhabitants, and to help foster critical
dialogue across cultures. This is not a course primarily about the Arab-Israeli conflict or about
the region’s international politics, but rather about the domestic politics of the states of the
Middle East. We will be using comparative analysis to illuminate differences and similarities in
culture, institutions and history that might shed light on particular political outcomes in
different countries of the region.
Goals and Philosophy:
The major themes will will address together in this course are:
*The origin and function of the Middle East states system
* The history and evolution of Islam
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
* The framework of authoritarian rule and its varieties
* The upheavals of the Arab Spring
* The contradictions and challenges of Islam and politics
We will be exploring these themes through the study of Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Libya and Iran,
with the understanding that it is simply not possible to explore all of the countries of this region
in a single semester. The goal is not for you to become an expert on all 23 countries of the
Middle East and North Africa, but rather for you to become fluent in the discourse community
of Middle East Politics.
Required Texts:
The following texts are available for purchase in the university bookstore.
Armstrong, Karen. Islam: A Short History.
Lust, Ellen. The Middle East.
Lynch, Marc. The Arab Uprisings.
Prerequisites: POS 203/102 with a min. grade of CAttendance and Punctuality:
Because of the frequency of interactive activities and presentations, your presence in class is
essential to the creation and maintenance of a collaborative learning environment. Three
absences are permitted, whatever the reason. Any further absences will be subtracted on a
percentage basis directly from your final grade, unless excused by a note. We meet about 27
times, so for example, if you miss three classes beyond your 3 permitted absences, you will be
docked 1/9 of your final grade – 11 total points. So if you scored an 87 in the class but missed 6
classes, your total grade will be reduced to a 76. The following chart illustrates the penalties
associated with the number of skips:
1: no penalty
6: 11 points
11: 31 points
2: no penalty
7: 15 points
12: 35 points
3: no penalty
8: 19 points
13: 39 points
4: 3 points
9: 23 points
14: automatic failure
5: 7 points
10: 27 points
2
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
Students who arrive after roll is taken will receive half-credit for that day’s attendance;
Students arriving more than 15 minutes late are welcome to stay, but will receive no credit for
that day’s attendance.
Crisis Policy
If you are experiencing difficulties with your health, personal life or any other crisis that is
affecting your ability to come to class and complete the work, it is imperative that you alert me
as soon as possible. The best path is to see someone at Roosevelt’s counseling center, who can
then alert all your professors that you are having trouble. I can work together with the
counseling center to find an appropriate course of action to help you make it through the class.
It is not acceptable to approach me at the end of the semester to tell me you’ve been having
problems since August with the expectation that this will change your grade.
Assignments
Midterm Examination: There will be one midterm exam, administered in-class on October 16th.
Research Sequence: Each student will write a 3,000-3,500 term paper, addressing course
themes in a country or group of countries from your working group. This paper serves as your
final exam. The paper will be a 3-part research sequence, comprised of a research proposal
(10%), complex synthesis (20%) and judgmental synthesis/final paper (70%). The detailed
research sequence is posted to Blackboard for you to review. Relevant dates are included in the
syllabus.
Quizzes: Short weekly quizzes will be administered on the previus week’s readings. Your lowest
two grades will be dropped. There are no make-up quizzes.
Presentations: On most Thursdays, student discussion leaders will be responsible for leading
our exploration of the week’s themes and readings.
Grading
Note: I reserve the right to adjust grades on the margin based on a shared understanding of
your contribution to the group learning environment.
Midterm Examination:
Research Sequence:
Presentation/Participation:
Quizzes:
25%
40%
10%
25%
3
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
University Policy on Absence to Observe Religious Holidays:
Roosevelt University respects the rights of students to observe major religious holidays and will
make accommodations, upon request, for such observances. Students who wish to observe
religious holidays must inform their instructors in writing within the first two weeks of the
semester of their intent to observe the holiday so that alternative arrangements convenient to
both students and faculty can be made at the earliest opportunity. See the student handbook
for further details.
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE – OCTOBER 29 (must submit drop/add form)
LATE WITHDRAWAL POLICY – Approval to be given primarily for non-academic reasons. It
requires completion of form, including statement and rationale for request, explanation of why
it was not requested by the deadline, documentation to support the claim, and finally,
signatures from the instructor, chair, and dean. Such signatures do not guarantee approval of
the petition (it will then be reviewed by committee).
Class Schedule
Note: Readings are to be completed prior to the class for which they are assigned.
Week 1: THE STUDY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Tuesday August 28th
In class: Logistics and Introductions
Read: Thursday August 30th
In class: Lecture: The Legacy of Islam in the Middle East
Read: Armstrong pp. 1-77.
Week 2: THE EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST
Tuesday September 4th
In-class: Lecture: “The Rise of Colonial Rule”
Read: Armstrong, pp 77-187;
Thursday, September 6th
4
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
In-Class: Discussion
Read: Lust Chapter 1 “The Making of the Modern Middle East”
Tuesday, September 11th
In-Class: Lecture: Colonialism and After
Read: Efraim Karsh. “The Missing Piece: Islamic Imperialism.” Israel Affairs 13(4): 2007.
Thursday, September 13th
In-class: Student-led discussion.
Read: Zubaida, Sami. “Islam and nationalism: continuities and contradictions.” Nations and
Nationalism 10(4): 2004: 407-420 {BB}.
Week 3-4: MODERNITY AND DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday September 18th
In-class: Lecture
Read: Lust Chapter 2/Valentine M. Moghadam and Tabitha Decker “Social Change in the Middle
East.” March Lynch, The Arab Uprisings Chapter 1, pp. 7-28.
Thursday September 20th
In-class: Student-Led Discussion
Read: Asef Bayat. “Transforming the Arab World: The Arab Human Development Report and
the Politics of Change.” Development and Change 36(6): 1225-1237.
Tuesday September 25th
***No class Faris in Abu Dhabi for Super-Secret Spy Conference***
Thursday September 27thth
In-class: Lecture: “The Rentier State” + Discussion
Read: Lust Chapter 3/Melani Cammett, “The Political Economy of Development in the Middle
East”;
Week 5: VARIETIES OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE
Tuesday October 2nd
5
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
In-class: Lecture “The Rise and Fall of Authoritarianism”
Read: Lust Chapter 5/Ellen Lust, “Institutions and Governance.” Marc Lynch, The Arab Uprisings,
Chapters 2-3, pp. 29-67.
Thursday October 4th
In-class: Student-led discussion
Read: Eva Bellin, “The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East.” Comparative Politics
36(2): January 2004 {BB}. Eva Bellin, “The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East
Reconsidered.” Comparative Politics 2012 {BB}.
Week 6: EGYPT FROM NASSER TO MORSI
Tuesday, October 9th
In-class: Lecture “The struggle for modern Egypt”
Read: Lust Chapter 6/Tarek Masoud, “Egypt.” Jason Brownlee, “Unrequited Moderation:
Credible Commitments and State Repression in Egypt.” Studies in Comparative Political
Development, January 2011 {BB}.
Due: Research Sequence Part 1: Research Proposal
Thursday October 11th
In-class: Student-led discussion
Read: Mona El-Ghobashy, “The Liquidation of Egypt’s Illiberal Experiment.” Middle East Report,
December 29th, 2010. {BB}
Week 7: Midterm + Egypt
Tuesday, October 16th
In-class: MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Thursday, October 18th
In-Class: Lecture “The Arab Spring in Egypt”
Read: Mona El-Ghobashy, “The Praxis of the Egyptian Revolution.” Middle East Report {BB}.
Marc Lynch, The Arab Uprisings Chapter 4, pp. 67-99.
Week 8: THE ARAB SPRING IN TUNISIA
6
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
Tuesday, October 23rd
In-class: Lecture: Mohammad Bouazizzi and the Politics of Despair
Read: Lust Chapter 23/ Jeffrey Coupe, “Tunisia.” Marc Lynch, The Arab Uprisings Chapters 5-6,
101-160.
Thursday October 25th
In-class: Student-led Discussion
Read: Alfred Stepan. “Tunisia’s Transition and the Twin Tolerations.” Journal of Democracy.
{BB}. Fabio Merone and Francesco Cavatorta. “The Emergence of Salafism in Tunisia.”
Jadaliyya. August 23rd, 2012. {BB}
Week 9: LIBYA AND THE FUTURE OF NORTH AFRICA
Tuesday October 30th
In-class: Lecture on Libya
Read: Lust Chapter 17/Luis Martinez, “Libya”
Thursday November 1st
In-class: Student-led Discussion
Read: Georgio Cafiero. “Beyond Libya’s Elections.” Jadaliyya, July 19th, 2012. March Lynch, The
Arab Uprisings Chapter 7, 161-192.
Week 10: IRAN AND THE DURABILITY OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE
Tuesday November 6th
In-class: Lecture “From Social Revolution to Green Revolution”
Read: Lust Chapter 11/ Mehrzad Boroujerdi “Iran.” Mahmoud Monshipouri, “The Islamic
Republic and ‘The Green Movement’: Coming Full Circle. Middle East Policy, 2009 {BB}.
Thursday November 8thth
In-class: Student-Led Discussion
Read: Keddie, Nikki R. “Arab and Iranian Revolts 1979-2011: Influences or Similar Causes?”
International Journal of Middle East Studies 44/1 (Feb 2012): 150-152.
7
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
Week 11: THE ARAB SPRING TURNS VIOLENT: SYRIA
Tuesday, November 13th
In-class: Lecture: The Assad Regime and Hama Rules
Read: Lust Chapter 22/Raymond Hinnebusch “Syria”
Thursday, November 15th
In-class: Student-led Discussion
Read: Hinnebusch, Raymond. “Syria: From ‘authoritarian upgrading’ to revolution.”
International Affairs 88(1): 2012, 95-113.
Due: Research Sequence Part II: Complex Synthesis
Week 12: THANKSGIVING
NO CLASS SEPTEMBER 20TH AND 22ND: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Weeks 13-14: POLITICAL ISLAM AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
Tuesday November 27th
In-class: Lecture: Political Islam/Radical Islam
Read: Tessler, Mark. “"Islam and Democracy in the Middle East:The Impact of Religious
Orientations on Attitudes toward Democracy in Four Arab Countries." Comparative Politics,
2004 {BB}. Lust, Ellen. “Missing the Third Wave: Islam, Institutions and Democracy in the
Middle East. Studies in Comparative International Development. June 2011. {BB}.
Thursday November 29th
In-class: Student-led discussion
Read: Bassain Tibi, “Why They Can’t Be Democratic.” Journal of Democracy, 2008 {BB}.
Denouex, Guillain. “The Forgotten Swamp: Navigating Political Islam.” Middle East Policy, 2002
{BB}.
Tuesday December 4th
In-class: Lecture
Read: John Voll et. al. “Political Islam in the Arab Awakening: Who are the Major Players?”
Middle East Report, Summer 2012. Eric Trager, “The Unbreakable Muslim Brotherhood.”
8
POS 354: Power and Politics in the Middle East
Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb 2012 {BB}. “Learning to Live with the Islamist Winter.” Foreign Policy.
Foreign Policy. July 19th, 2012 {BB}.
Thursday December 6th
In-Class: Student-led discussion and semester wrap.
Read: -- Marc Lynch, The Arab Uprisings Chapter 8, 192-235.
Due Tuesday, December 11th: Research Sequence Part III: Complex Synthesis
Important Notes:
*Students with disabilities may request special accommodations. Students must let me know
within the first two weeks of the semester if this is the case, and they also must contact Nancy
Litke in the Academic Success Center (312-384-3810).
*Students are required to abide by the University’s Code of Student Conduct. Students who
plagiarize or cheat will receive a zero for the assignment and will be referred to the university
for disciplinary action.
*Cell phones, mp3 players and other personal electronic devices must be switched off during
class. You may use your laptop for notetaking, but students using their laptops for personal
communication during class will be asked to stop.
*There is no eating during class. You may bring drinks with lids or caps.
*Enrolling in this course constitutes acceptance of these policies. I reserve the right to alter
policies and scheduling on the syllabus and will give advance notice to students of any changes.
9