Understanding Israel and Palestine: One Land, Two People
| Module title | Understanding Israel and Palestine: One Land, Two People |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC3088 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Aneta Brockhill (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
The Israel-Palestine conflict has now raged for over a hundred years, constituting one of the most vicious and protracted conflicts of modern time. Its continuation has been one of the central threats to the security of the Middle East, and indeed, to the security of the larger global community. This module raises some fundamental questions about the conflict. What is the origin of the conflict? What is so unique about the conflict? How can the conflict be characterised and understood? Why has the conflict been so persistent? In this module, we will examine the causes, dynamics, the key issues, and main developments of the conflict. This analysis will be situated within the academic debates on nationalism, identity, ethnicity, violence, conflict, security, regional relations, and international relations. The question of Israel-Palestine however, is highly contested and contentious. One researching the conflict may think that he/she is reading about two entirely different conflicts. The module will introduce you to the literature on the conflict that brings a variety of voices, viewpoints and perspectives, and show the complex nature of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
No prior knowledge skills or experience are required to take this module, and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will:
1. Introduce you to the causes, dynamics, key issues, and main developments in the politics of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and situate the analysis within the academic debates on nationalism, identity, ethnicity, violence, conflict, security, regional relations, and international relations.
2. Introduce you to various, often contradictory, interpretations of the conflict going beyond the two 'official' narratives.
3. Provide you with the opportunity to develop a range of study skills, including the ability to work individually and in a group, evaluate and constructively critique peers’ work, and to construct a coherent and well-reasoned critical analysis of the issues discussed in both oral and written forms.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the main developments, issues and actors in the Israel-Palestine conflict, taking account of varying narratives of events and dynamics of the conflict;
- 2. Critically assess and analyse Israeli and Palestinian internal political and social structures, and apply this analysis in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict;
- 3. Understand, analyse and critically evaluate the political ideas and ideologies that have guided the dynamics of the conflict;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Find, use, and analyse primary and secondary data relevant to specific issue areas;
- 5. Apply theoretical debates of nationalism, identity, violence or security to empirical data and vice versa;
- 6. Understand assessment criteria, engage in constructive peer-evaluation and produce feedback and suggestions for improvement.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Develop oral presentation and communication, group interaction, and analytical writing skills;
- 8. Locate, research and critically evaluate relevant information from academic sources to form a critical analysis;
- 9. Articulate and defend positions on the seminar topics;
- 10. Understand assessment criteria, engage in critical, yet constructive, peer-evaluation and produce feedback and suggestions for improvement;
- 11. Study independently and in groups;
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction to the module: One Hundred Years of Violence.
- Conflicting Promises and Competing Nationalisms
- The Creation of Israel and Al-Naqba: Two Sides of the Same Coin
- Israel-Palestine and the Israel-Arab conflict
- Greater Israel and Life under Israeli occupation
- Israel's Security and Life under Terrorism
- Palestinian Society and Politics
- Israeli Society and Politics
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 11 | 11x1 hour lecture and discussion facilitated by the convenor |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 11 | 11x1 hour seminars led by student presentations and discussion led by convenor |
| Guided independent study | 37 | Reading and preparing responses for seminar questions |
| Guided independent study | 36 | Research and preparation of student-led seminar |
| Guided independent study | 15 | Research and composition of Essay Plan |
| Guided independent study | 37 | Research and composition of essay |
| Guided independent study | 3 | Composition of peer reviews |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Paper plan | 1 page | 1-11 | Oral comments from tutor and written peer-review in class |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Paper | 60 | 2,500 | 1-11 | Written |
| Portfolio | 40 | 1,500 | 1-11 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Paper | Research Paper (2,500 words) | 1-11 | August/September assessment period |
| Portfolio | Portfolio (1,500) | 1-11 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Bishara, M. (2001) Palestine/Israel: Peace or Apartheid. London and New York: Zed Books
Caplan, N. (2010)The Israel-Palestine Conflict. Contested Histories. Malden and Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell
David, S. (2009) ‘Existential Threat to Israel’ in Freedman Robert O. (ed.) Contemporary Middle East. Boulder CO: Westview Press. Chapter 13
Gerner, D., J. (1991) One Land, Two Peoples: The conflict over Palestine, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press
Gelvin, J.L.(2007) The Israel-Palestine conflict: one hundred years of war. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press
Kamrava, M. (2011)The Modern Middle East: A Political History Since the First World War. London: California University Press Ltd. Chapter 9
Milton-Edwards, B. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A People’s War (London: Routledge, 2009)
Mahler. G. S. and Mahler, A., R. (2010) The Arab-Israeli Conflict: An Introduction and Document Reader,.London: Routledge,
Peters, J. and Newman, D. (2013)Routledge Handbook on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. London and New York:Routledge
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Amnesty International. Israel and the Occupied Territories-www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/
B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories-www.btselem.org/
International Crisis Group-www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/middle-east-north-africa/israel-palestine
Israel Foreign Ministry-www. mfa.gov.il
Israel Democracy Institute- www.en.idi.org.il
Negotiations Affairs Department, Palestine Liberation Organisation- www.nad-plo.org
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
The Gatekeepers (2002, Dror Moreh)
Occupation 101 (2006, Abdallah Omeish, Sufyan Omeish,)
State 194 (2013,Dan Setton, 2013)
Paradise Now (2016, Hany Abu-Assad)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Last revision date | 20/08/2020 |
