State and Society in the Middle East
| Module title | State and Society in the Middle East |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM651 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
This module explores concepts, themes and cases which are crucial to an understanding of modern Middle Eastern politics. While political science often conceptualize politics as synonymous with presidents, parties and parliaments, this module studies political power in its broader social setting. By adopting a critical, sociological approach to forces such as ethnicity, religion and nationalism, it seeks to explain Middle East politics with reference to its underlying social dynamics. The module thus examines the interaction between the institutions and ideas of the state, and the social context in which that state is rooted.
Each seminar takes one or two case studies as a means to examine key concepts and theories in political sociology. This allows students to expand their empirical knowledge of the Middle East, as well as their knowledge of debates in the field. Furthermore, students may choose which countries to focus on in their assessed work, so have the option of developing special expertise in particular areas of interest.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module explores concepts, themes and cases which are crucial to an understanding of modern Middle Eastern politics. While political science often conceptualize politics as synonymous with presidents, parties and parliaments, this module studies political power in its broader social setting. By adopting a critical, sociological approach to forces such as ethnicity, religion and nationalism, it seeks to explain Middle East politics with reference to its underlying social dynamics. The module thus examines the interaction between the institutions and ideas of the state, and the social context in which that state is rooted.
Each seminar takes one or two case studies as a means to examine key concepts and theories in political sociology. This allows students to expand their empirical knowledge of the Middle East, as well as their knowledge of debates in the field. Furthermore, students may choose which countries to focus on in their assessed work, so have the option of developing special expertise in particular areas of interest.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate familiarity with concepts and analytical tools applied to study domestic politics in the Middle East.
- 2. Show understanding of the patterns of state-society interaction in the region. Show understanding of the processes of state formation and of the constitution of social and political forces.
- 3. Show familiarity with sources of data on these issues and countries of the region.
- 4. Demonstrate awareness of the different perspectives and debates within the field of Middle East politics.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Critically analyse primary and secondary source material.
- 6. Understand and use social theory.
- 7. Assess the merits of different conceptual, theoretical and methodological approaches
- 8. Construct coherent yet concise arguments in both written and verbal formats.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Work effectively in a group and independently
- 10. Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- 11. Digest, select and organise material. Manage time and meet deadlines
- 12. Articulate and defend positions on the seminar topics
- 13. Comment critically but constructively on the arguments of others.
Syllabus plan
1. Orientalism, Area Studies & Social Science: Approaches to Middle East Politics
2. Historical Sociology of the State in the Middle East
3. Nationalism: Theory, Ideology and Practice
4. Authoritarianism: Violence, Discourse and Symbolic Power
5. Military Politics: Armed Forces and Society
6. Sectarianism: Politics outside the State
7. Religion and State-Building: Modernity without Secularism
8. Political Islam and Civil Society: Inside or Outside the State?
9. Ethnicity: Primordial Ties and Imagined Communities
10. Corruption, Economic Reform and Neo-Patrimonialism
11. a) Informal Politics: Poverty, Power and Resistance
b) Revision
Teaching will take place through two-hour weekly seminars. Discussions are student-led. Each seminar begins with a student presentation which seeks to answer a set question relating to the specified readings for that topic. The presentation is, followed by a 5 minute intervention from a discussant, who will respond directly to the argument presented by the first student. Open debate then follows. The seminar strongly encourages students to engage with one another�s opinions and perspectives, in addition to the weekly readings. It provides a forum for intra-group learning aided by prior experience and both directed and independently-researched reading and thinking. In addition to the formal assessment, students submit a formative (unassessed) essay and receive feedback on written work at an early stage of the module. This eases the transition to a Master's degree by allowing students opportunity to adjust to the more demanding academic requirements expected at this level.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 278 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 hours | 11 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 128 hours | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar presentation | 1-13 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 50 | 3,500 words | 1-13 | Written feedback |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 3,500 words | 1-13 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay (3,500 words) | 1-13 | Next reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay (3,500 words) | 1-13 | Next reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Nazih Ayubi, Over-Stating the Arab State (London: I.B.Tauris, 1995).
Simon Bromley, Rethinking Middle East Politics: State Formation and Development (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993).
Steven Heydemann, ed., War, Institutions, and Social Change in the Middle East (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000).
Sami Zubaida, Islam, the State and the People (London: I. B. Tauris, 1991).
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2008 |
| Last revision date | 10/08/2012 |