The Kurds: History and Politics
| Module title | The Kurds: History and Politics |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARA3140 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Clemence Scalbert Yucel (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
In this module you will focus on the socio-political history of Kurds and Kurdistan since the nineteenth century from the present day. You will examine the major events of Kurdish history, covering the late Ottoman Empire, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey and discussing the present volatile situation, focusing on the development of Kurdish nationalism and political movement(s), but also the relationships of the Kurds with their home governments, neighbouring populations, and international actors. You will also examine the transformation of the Kurdish society since the end of the 19th century looking in particular at issues such as social organisation, gender, religion, migration, urbanisation, and diaspora, economic change, and neoliberalism.
The module is seminar-based, consisting of short lectures followed by in-depth class discussions and student presentations. No prior knowledge of the subject is required; the module is suitable for interdisciplinary pathways.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will introduce you to the social and political history of the Kurds, the largest stateless nation and the largest group in the Middle East after Arabs, Persians and Turks. They have begun to play a prominent role in the complex politics and social transformation of the Middle East, which are difficult to understand without a grasp of the Kurds’ long and complicated history. The module aims to give you an understanding of the social and political history of the Kurds in relation to the global context, and to help you analyse their political organisation and the evolution of the society from a range of perspectives. The module will encourage you to critically examine the social and political history of the Kurds, considering issues of social organisation, nationalism, political party formation, identity and religion, migration, diaspora, and mobility, gender, political economy, regional and international relations.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the political historical developments of the different parts in Kurdistan in a global context.
- 2. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the social and economical transformation of Kurdistan and Kurdish society since the late 19th century
- 3. Demonstrate objective analysis of the Kurds interaction with the dominant states of the region.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Discuss and analyze historical material.
- 5. Apply a multi-disciplinary approach in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of a particular ethno-national group.
- 6. Distinguish between a range of methodological approaches as well as variety of genres, i.e. historical, political or anthropological and sociological texts, (auto)biographical writings and fiction.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent and cogent argument, developed through the mode of assessment.
- 8. Analyze and assess literature and various resources critically
- 9. Engage in independent study in group or individually
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:
The Historiography of the Kurds and Kurdistan
The Kurds between two empires (the Ottomans and the Safavids)
Kurds and Kurdistan in the first World War
Kurdish nationalism and the question of identity
Religious identities and politics in Kurdistan
The Kurdish national movement and the states (Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria)
Kurds, actors of Middle-Eastern Regional politics
The Diasporisation of the Kurdish People
The Kurdish political movement and transformation of gender roles
Kurdistan, war, and the global economy
War and the transformation of society in Kurdistan
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 and Teaching activity | 22 | Classroom hours (11 x 2 hours seminars) |
| Guided Independent study | 55 | Weekly Reading and class preparation 5 hours x 11 |
| Guided Independent study | 20 | Reading and writing up of book review |
| Guided Independent study | 25 | Project (15 hours researching/coordinating; 10 hours writing/preparing presentation) |
| Guided Independent study | 28 | Essay (18 hours reading, 10 hours writing) |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class discussion and group or individual presentation | Weekly | 1-3 | Oral feedback |
| Project Proposal | 500 words | 1-3; 7 | Oral and Written 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Book Review | 20 | 750 words | 1-3; 6-9 | Written (and verbal by appointment with student) |
| Essay | 40 | 1,500 words | 1-9 | Written (and verbal by appointment with student) |
| Project | 40 | Project material (video, podcast, painting, text, etc - TBD on individual basis with module convenor) equivalent to 1,000 words | 1-9 | Written and verbal |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Project equivalent to 1,000 words | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Academic Book Review | Academic book review (750 words) | 1-3; 6-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (1,500 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
van Bruinessen, Martin (1992), Agha, Sheikh and State: The Social and Political Structures of Kurdistan, Zed Books: London & New Jersey.
McDowall, David (1996), A Modern History of the Kurds, London: I.B. Tauris.
Mojab, Shahrzad (2001), Women of a Non-State Nation: The Kurds, Costa Mesa: Mazda.
Stansfield, Gareth and Shareef Mohammed (2017) The Kurdish Question Revisited, London: Hurst.
Olson, Robert (1989), The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism and the Sheikh Said Rebellion, 1880-1925, Texas: University of Texas Press.
Vali, Abbas (ed.) (2003), Essays on the Origins of Kurdish Nationalism, Costa Mesa: Mazda.
Watts, Nicole (2010) Activists in office. Kurdish politics and protest in Turkey, Seattle, University of Washington Press.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | none |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 10/02/2014 |
| Last revision date | 15/12/2022 |
