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State and Society in the Middle East

Module description

This module explores key concepts, themes, ideologies and issues which are crucial to an understanding of the politics and society of the Modern Middle East. Thus in the module you will examine the interaction between institutions and ideas of the state, and the social context in which the state is rooted. It investigates theoretical and empirical questions related state-society interaction. Concepts such as civil society, class, tribe, sect, gender, religion, and informal politics are integral part of the examination of state-society relations. Course readings are interdisciplinary and include works of history, sociology, political science, economy, anthropology and human rights advocacy. Seminars take a closer look at the key concepts and theories analysed in the lecture by looking at one or two case studies. 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. Overall, the module enriches your understanding of the history, society and politics of the Middle East and therefore benefits their overall academic curricula. 

No specific pre-requisite skills are required to take this module.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module explores concepts, themes, ideologies and issues which are key to the study of politics and society in the Middle East. The aim of this module is to enable you to understand the patterns of state-society interaction, the bases upon which social and political forces are constituted, and the forms of power deployed in the interplay between state and societal actors.  The module has three main objectives: examine the analytical and conceptual tools used to understand and explain state-society relations; familiarise you with the different perspectives and debates within the field of Middle East politics; expand your empirical knowledge of the region by examining specific case studies during the seminars.

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 politics and society in the Middle East.
• 2. Show familiarity with the forms of societal organisations and modes of social and political action.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Critically analyse primary and secondary source material.
• 4. Understand and use social theory.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Work effectively in a group and independently
• 6. Conduct critical analyses and evaluation of the subject topics in writing and oral presentations

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:

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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).

Key words search

State, Society, Middle East