ASTK12316U Course: Conflicts in the Middle East

Volume 2014/2015
Education
Bachelorlevel: 10 ECTS
Masterlevel: 7,5 ECTS

SRM - Elective course: 7.5 ECTS
Content

Since the formation of the modern Middle East, states in this region have seen its fair share of conflicts. Many have resulted in all out war, but there are still more that are latent. This course will deal with a variety of conflict typologies and is structured to give the participants an understanding of the modern history of the MENA region in lieu of notions of ethnicity, religion and ideology.

 

The first half of the course is organized chronologically, dealing with the changes, regionally and internationally, and focusing on the wars. The second half will deal with the post-Cold War configuration and how this has translated into the political landscape that has emerged in the Middle East. A key factor here will be to emphasize the importance of history when dealing with the region and how it can explain the tendencies for conflicts, both in relation to nation states and beyond. Different thematic issues from religious fault lines to ideological clashes will be taken into consideration when analyzing current events.

 

The theoretical: The course will draw on a mixture of classical IR theory and more contemporary theoretical approaches to Armed Groups, Proxy War and Regional Dynamics.

 

The empirical: The main object of the course is to introduce the students to a variety of different sources and perspectives on conflicts in the Middle East. Several important players will be examined ranging from superpowers intervening in the region to non-state actors changing the ‘rules of the game’.

Learning Outcome

This course will teach the participants:

 

  • Familiarity with the region and, in particular, the chosen cases.
  • The importance of history when dealing with the Middle East.
  • An understanding of the dynamics that drive conflicts in the Middle East.
  • The use of new theoretical frameworks when dealing with specific elements in the region.
  • Applying theoretical frameworks to new developments in the region.
  • Critical reflection on empirical sources.

 

 

The specified reading list for the course.

Introduction

  • George, Alexander L. (1979). ‘Case Studies and Theory Development: The Method of Structured, Focused Comparison’. In: Lauren, Paul G. (Ed.) (1979). Diplomacy: New Approaches in History, Theory, and Policy. New York: The Free Press, pp. 43-68 (25)

 

Formation of the Modern Middle East

  • Aly,Abdel Monem Said , Shai Feldman & Khalil Shikaki (2013). Arabs and Israelis: Conflicts and peacemaking in the modern Middle East. New York: Palgrave Mcmillan, pp. 46-84 (38)
  • Rogan, Eugene L. (2013). ‘The Emergence of the Middle East into the Modern State System’. In: Fawcett, Louise (Ed.) (2013). International Relations of the Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 37-59 (22)

From Empires to Superpowers

  • Aly,Abdel Monem Said , Shai Feldman & Khalil Shikaki (2013). Arabs and Israelis: Conflicts and peacemaking in the modern Middle East. New York: Palgrave Mcmillan, pp. 85-117 (32)
  • Gibson, Christopher P. (2008). Securing the State. Burlington: Asgate, pp. 67-76 (9)
  • Schaub, Gary (2011). ‘Civil-military Relations’. In: Kurian, George Thomas (Ed.) (2011). The Encyclopedia of Political Science, Volume 1. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, pp. 238-239 (1)
  • Sluglett, Peter (2013). ‘The Cold War in the Middle East’. In: Fawcett, Louise (Ed.) (2013). International Relations of the Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 60-76 (16)

Six days of War

  • Aly,Abdel Monem Said , Shai Feldman & Khalil Shikaki (2013). Arabs and Israelis: Conflicts and peacemaking in the modern Middle East. New York: Palgrave Mcmillan, pp. 118-156 (38)
  • De Atkine, Norvell (2002). ‘Why Arab Armies Lose Wars´. In: Rubin, Barry & Thomas a. Keaney (Eds.) (2002). Armed Forces in the Middle East. Oxon: Routledge, 23-40 (17)
  • Pollack, Kenneth M. (2002). Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948-1991. USA: University of Nebraska Press, pp. 1-13 & 552-583 (44)

The Ramadan/Yom Kippur/ October War and the Israeli-Egyptian peace

  • Aly,Abdel Monem Said , Shai Feldman & Khalil Shikaki (2013). Arabs and Israelis: Conflicts and peacemaking in the modern Middle East. New York: Palgrave Mcmillan, pp. 156-194 (38)
  • Barry, Rubin (2002). ‘The Military in Contemporary Middle east Politics’. In: Rubin, Barry & Thomas a. Keaney (Eds.) (2002). Armed Forces in the Middle East. Oxon: Routledge, pp. 1-22 (22)

Fall of the Shah

  • Bayat, Mangol (1983). ‘The Iranian Revolution of 1978-79: Fundamentalist or Modern?’. In: The Middle East Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 30-42 (12)
  • Habibi, Mariam , Peyman Jafari, Richard Jone-Nerzic, David Keys & David Smith (2012). History of Europe & the Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 229-239 (10)
  • Yapp, M.E. (1996). The Near East since the First World War: A History to 1995 (2nd Ed.). Essex: Longman, pp. 330-353 (23)

 

The Iran-Iraq War

  • Dodds, Joana & Benjamin Wilson (2009). ‘The Iran-Iraq war: will without means’. In: Rubin, Barry (Ed.) (2009). Conflicts and Insurgencies in the Contemporary Middle East. Oxon: Routledge, pp. 46-70 (24)
  • Walt, Stephen M. (1997). Revolution and War. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 210-268 (58)

 

Lebanon

  • Badran, Tony (2009). ‘Lebanon’s militia wars’. In: Rubin, Barry (Ed.) (2009). Conflicts and Insurgencies in the Contemporary Middle East. Oxon: Routledge, pp. 161-186 (25)
  • Norton, Augustus Richard (1991). ‘Lebanon After Ta’if: Is the Civil War Over?’. In: The Middle East Journal, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 457-473 (16)
  • Pearlman, Wendy (2009). ‘Spoiling Inside and Out’. In: International Security, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 79-109 (30)
  • Rabinovich, Itamar (1990). ‘Israel, Syria and Lebanon’. In: The International Journal, Vol.45, No. 3, pp. 529-552 (23)

 

The full list will be uploaded in Absalon

In-class sessions will constitute a mixture of lectures, discussions and mandatory student presentations. Additionally there will be a focus on in-class analyses of current events on the basis of the readings. Guest lectures will be incorporated when possible.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Course Preparation
  • 56
  • Exam
  • 66
  • Exam Preparation
  • 52
  • Exercises
  • 4
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Written
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
  • Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
  • Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
  • Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner