Politics and Economics of the Middle East
| Module title | Politics and Economics of the Middle East |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARAM244 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Lise Storm (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the subjects of the politics and economics of the Middle East and North Africa, making use of various books, practitioner reports and policy papers on politics and economics in the region, covering theoretical as well as empirical material. By utilising different types of texts it is hoped that you will gain the skills to discuss the topics of Middle East politics and economics both in a country-specific and a broader, region-wide setting.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the subjects of the politics and economics of the Middle East and North Africa. The module makes use of various books, practitioner reports and policy papers on politics and economics in the region, covering theoretical as well as empirical material. You will gain the skills to discuss the topics both in a country-specific and a broader setting, i.e., across the Middle East and North Africa.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of key issues in the debate on Middle East politics and economics, including international relations and development studies.
- 2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the state of politics and economics in the Middle East and North Africa, not only at the regional level, but also in individual cases.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Find, use and analyse secondary and primary data relevant to specific issue areas, particularly Middle Eastern current affairs.
- 4. Place issues discussed in a wider context and deploy critical arguments relevant to the field of Middle East politics and economics.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through readings, class/group discussions and presentations.
- 6. Exhibit your ability to undertake political analysis at an advanced level.
Syllabus plan
The module will consist of 11 sessions which will emphasize different aspects of Middle East politics and economics, focusing in particular on the main actors and institutions in the region and the challenges and opportunities facing these. 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 Arab Uprisings: placing the module in context
- Poverty and inequality
- Crony capitalism
- Arab militaries: economic and political interference
- Competitive authoritarianism
- Governments and parliaments
- Political parties
- Essay workshop (synopsis-based)
- Women in parliament
- Trade unions
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 278 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 22 | 11x2-hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 77 | Weekly reading (7 hours per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 22 | Class preparation (2 hours per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 179 | Preparation and writing of synopsis (44 hours) and essay (135 hours) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synopsis | 25 | 1,500 words | 1-6 | Written |
| Essay | 75 | 4,500 words | 1-6 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synopsis | Synopsis | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Brown, Nathan (2001) Constitutions in a Nonconstitutional World. New York: State University of New York Press.
Cavatorta, Francesco and Lise Storm (eds) (2018) Political Parties in the Arab World. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Diwan, Ishac, Adeel Malik and Izak Atiyas (eds) (2019) Crony Capitalism in the Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hinnebusch, Raymond and Jasmine Gani (eds) (2019) The Routledge Handbook to the Middle East and North African State and States System. London: Routledge.
Krishnan, Nandini, Gabriel Lara Ibarra, Ambar Narayan, Sailesh Tiwari and Tara Vishwanath (2016) Uneven Odds, Unequal Outcomes: Inequality of Opportunity in the Arab Region. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
Levitsky, Steven and Lucan Way (2011) Competitive Authoritarianism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
| 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 | 01/04/2020 |
| Last revision date | 1/12/2022 |
