Political Science 4605
Dr. Walid Kazziha
Fall 2015
Office hours MH, 1-2, or by appointment.
Office 2018
FIRST RULE:
"Students are not allowed into the classroom once the class is in session. No student is allowed to
drift in or out of class, unless a prior permission has been obtained from the instructor at the
beginning of the session." Cheers.
International Politics in the Middle East
The Purpose of this seminar is to explore the relationships of the Middle East to the Great
powers of our time, with emphasis on the political , military , economic and cultural impact of
these powers on shaping the region , and determining its future, from colonial times until the
present. It is also the purpose of the seminar to familiarize the students with the current issues
which form the basis of the strained relations among the countries of the Middle East as well as
with those outside the region.
In the course of examining the various phases of IR in the ME from WWI until the present, we
will analyze three major factors that interact to produce basic political trends, namely: 1. The
domestic setting in each ME state; 2. The politics of regional powers; and 3. The role of Great
powers.
Further more, we will concentrate in our study of the region on a number of topics: emergence
of state systems, the impact of ideological trends, and the current status of regional- international
politics in particular in Syria and Iraq, Palestine , Turkey, the Gulf region, and the growing
influence of political Islam.
Requirements of the seminar
The course will be divided into three major parts. In the first part our focus will be on a critical
study of some of the theories which, attempted to find an explanation for the emergence of a new
world order, particularly since the collapse of the bipolar system in the early 1990s. In the second
part of the course, we will concentrate on the historical and political evolution and development
of the state system in the ME. And in the third part of the course we will examine a select
number of current issues that seem to have a direct impact on the ME in IR.
In order to meet the requirements of the course, students are required to complete the following
tasks:
1- Read the weekly assignments in preparation for 2 one hour exams. 35 % each.
Please read the assignments on time so as to be able to participate intelligently in the
discussions. You will find that you have no substitute to reading the assignments and attending
regularly class for you to pass the two exams with a decent grade.
Attendance and participation is required and students are expected to attend all the sessions.
2- Each Student will participate in one of the following study groups: The crisis in Iraq and
Syria, The Iranian Nuclear Program, Political Islam, Turkey’s Role in the ME, Palestinian Israeli Conflict.
Students in the same study group will be scheduled a specific date to present their findings to the
class. On that date each student in the group will make an oral presentation. The performance of
the student will be evaluated by his peers (10%), however, the instructor will reserve his right to
overrule peer evaluation if he feels that students are not taking their responsibility seriously.
Between May 14 &18 each student will submit a written paper (5-7 pages) elaborating one
aspect of the study he/she has been involved in ( submission of written paper individually may
take place anytime in the last week of classes) 20%
Grading:
1- Exam # 1.
October 8,
35%
2- Exam # 2
November 12,
35%
3- Class presentations
Starting November 16-Ending December 14
4-Paper Submission
December 14,
20%
(No papers will be accepted after 4:00 p.m. December 14)
10%
Textbooks:
1- Louise Fawcett, International Relations of the Middle East , Oxford University Press, 2009
2-Fred Halliday, The Middle East in international Relations: Power, Politics and Ideology,
Cambridge University Press, 2005
3- Tareq Y. Ismael, The International Relations of the Middle East in the 21st century: Patterns
of continuity and change, Ashgate, 2000.
Weekly Schedule:
Week 1 - 5.(Sept.3-Oct.8, assignments will be announced at the beginning of each week): The
New World Order:
Clash of civilizations -Huntington
Pivotal State- Kennedy
End of History - Fukuyama
The state: Globalization in the Middle East – Richard Falk in Ismael.
Shift of Global power to the East- Kayshour Mahbubani
The Age of Nonpolarity, Richard Haas (Foreign Affairs, May-June 2008
The World Order, New York Times review of Henry Kissinger's recent book.
The Unravelling, by Richard Haass, in Foreign Affairs, November/December 2014
Week 6, (Oct12 &19)
Approaches to the study of the ME in IR:
Halliday PP 1-40
Week 7: (Oct.22&26)
Impact of Colonialism
Fawcett 21-43, the Arab Entry to International Relations, by Eugene Rogan.
Week 8:(Oct.29& Nov.2)
ME in the cold war: Suez 56, 67, 73
Halliday 97-129
Week 9:(Nov.5&9):
The US in the ME
A.Michael Hudson, Redefining US Role in the Gulf War, 308-330, in Fawcett
B. Mersheimer and Walt: The Israel Lobby and American Foreign Policy
Week 10, (Nov.12&16)
Major Non-State Actors in the Middle East
A. Reinoud Leenders, Know Thy Enemy: Hizbullah and the Politics of Perception
B. Charles Lister, Profiling the Islamic State
Week 11-13, (Nov.19- Dec 14)
Class Presentations:
Group report 1: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
Group report 2: The Crisis in Syria and Iraq
Group report 3: The Iranian Nuclear Program
Group report 4: Political Islam
Group report 5: Turkey in the ME
Some Rules to be observed:
1. According to university regulations, a total of 3 week absences could result in an F in the
course no matter what the reason is. This rule will be strictly adhered to.
2. Make ups should not be expected.
3. No extra credit will be offered to improve a grade unless it applies to the whole class.
4. A student may appeal his grade to the instructor IN WRITING, within one week of receiving
his/her exam booklet.
DISCLAIMER
THIS SYLLABUS IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE. YOU
CANNOT CLAIM ANY RIGHTS FROM IT. IN PARTICULAR, SCHEDULING AND
DATES MAY CHANGE. I MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO ADD OR DELETE SOME OF THE
READINGS.
THE SYLLABUS SHOULD BE A RELIABLE GUIDE FOR THE COURSE, AND IF ANY
CHANGES ARE MADE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL ALWAYS BE MADE IN
CLASS OR ON BANNER OR BLACKBOARD.