BA Arabic and Politics

ARA1010: Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East

This module will introduce you to the politics and political economy of the Middle East and give you the foundational knowledge to understand the contemporary challenges that the region is facing. The module will familiarise you with the main themes through which the region's politics and economy have been studied and debated in the academia, from the legacy of colonialism, to the politics of Islam and latest waves of popular mobilization, looking into the political dynamics of key states (Egypt, Iran, the Gulf states, Iraq, etc).

The module aims to provide you with a general introductory survey of the politics and political economy of the Middle East, covering topics such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the legacy of colonialism, the political economy of oil, the resilience of authoritarianism, the issue of political Islam and popular mobilization. It will provide you with an understanding of the key themes and issues pertinent to the academic study of the Middle-East region, and will seek to expand your ability to engage critically and analytically with issues facing the Middle- East region in the 21st century by situating them in historical and theoretical context, forming the basis for your studies in subsequent years.

View an example full module specification

ARA1033A: Elementary Arabic Language I

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilisation. This elementary-level module introduces you as a complete beginner to the fundamentals of the language, enabling you to acquire basic reading, writing, oral and aural skills to level A1 (breakthrough/beginner) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, it will introduce you to aspects of Arab cultures. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers.

No previous knowledge of Arabic is required to study in this module. If you have prior knowledge of Arabic acquired outside of your degree, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

The module will enable you to achieve basic proficiency in the language. You will first be introduced to the Arabic script, followed by the basics of Arabic grammar and syntax. Using a mixture of narrative-based and authentic content, both written and audio-visual, you will work on all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing and cultural knowledge. You will be encouraged to practice learned material independently.

View an example full module specification

ARA1033B: Elementary Arabic Language II

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilisation. This elementary-level module continues your introduction the fundamentals of Arabic, enabling you to develop basic reading, writing, oral and aural skills and take your language to level A2 (waystage/elementary) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).Through language, it will further introduce you to aspects of Arab cultures.

You will use a textbook and a variety of learning materials selected by your lecturers.

This module is for students who have successfully completed ARA1033A. It aims to enhance your reading, writing and communication skills in Arabic. The module aims to develop all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing—plus cultural knowledge—by means of written texts and audio-visual clips. By the end of the module, you are expected to be ready to embark on intermediate-level study of the language.

View an example full module specification

POL1029: Introduction to Comparative Politics

This module introduces you to the key concepts, theories, and methods from the field of Comparative Politics. Topics include the nature and origins of the modern state, democracy, authoritarianism and regime transitions, social and political cleavages, elections, political participation and media systems. You will develop the skills needed to engage in rigorous and systematic comparison, and to apply core theories to better understand political change. Although we will spend time thinking about concepts and theories, empirical case studies will inform all the questions we ask. In true comparative fashion, our examples will be drawn from a wide variety of representative case studies around the world. Teaching and learning for this module will take place in an interactive environment where students will be expected to engage fully with their peers and tutor, as well as working independently. Lectures will introduce key concepts and give students a grounding in the main issues and debates pertaining to the topic under consideration. Independent study and tutorials will help students to formulate, debate, and refine their own analyses of these topics.

View an example full module specification

ARA2000: Year Abroad

Having progressed your early Arabic learning at IAIS, you will spend one academic year in an Arabic-speaking country. There you will advance your knowledge of grammar and syntax, as well as reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will also learn a dialect of Arabic. The year abroad is an excellent opportunity for you to immerse yourself in an Arabic-speaking environment and to gain first-hand experience of Arab society and culture. It is a great opportunity for you to interact with Arabic-speakers and to become fluent in an Arabic dialect. The experience you gain from studying abroad will feed into your subsequent Arabic study at IAIS. During the year abroad you will be supported in your studies by both colleagues in the study abroad institution and by IAIS colleagues who will be in close contact with you there and may visit you. The Module Convenor will act as your named IAIS contact. There will be scheduled regular (usually at least fortnightly) contact with IAIS colleagues by e-mail and/or internet communications. The pre-requisites are successful completion of ARA1033A and ARA1033B (Elementary Arabic Language) with a grade average of 50 or higher.

There are 120 credits associated specifically with the year abroad, and students need to 'pass' the year abroad to progress to year 3.

View an example full module specification

ARA2139: Intermediate Arabic Language II

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilization. This is an intermediate-level module that extends as your knowledge of the language, introducing you to new and more abstract fields of communication and providing you with the means and opportunity to take your Arabic beyond level B2 to C1 (vantage/upper intermediate or proficiency/advanced) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, the module will continue your exposure to Arabic cultural expression.

Through your prior studies, you will have acquired a deeper knowledge of Arabic language and culture, as well as at least one dialect. This module helps you build on this experience and develop active and passive learning of the language through a wide range of written and audio-visual materials. You will strengthen your awareness of the various styles and registers of Arabic and develop your skills in composition and translation. You will also consolidate your knowledge of colloquial Arabic. You will use a variety of materials chosen by course tutors.

The pre-requisites are successful completion of ARA1033A, ARA1033B and Year Abroad (or equivalent).

View an example full module specification

POL2046: The Economics of Politics

This module aims to provide you with the skills to critically evaluate and apply rational choice approaches as an analytical tool for the examination of political phenomena. First, it discusses the underlying assumptions and their theoretical and empirical implications for political analyses. Second, the seminar will make you familiar with core approaches introducing economic reasoning in the conceptualisation and in the analysis of politics. Third, it will introduce you to the applications of rational choice theory in comparative politics.

This module aims at providing you with the skills to critically evaluate and apply rational choice approaches as an analytical tool for the examination of political phenomena. First, it discusses the underlying assumptions and their theoretical and empirical implications for political analyses. Second, the seminar makes you familiar with core approaches introducing economic reasoning in the conceptualisation and in the analysis of politics. Third, it introduces applications of rational choice theory in comparative politics.

View an example full module specification

POL2059: Political Thought of Modernity

This module will introduce you to some of the most influential, fascinating, and controversial texts and traditions in Western political thought - from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century - and, in so doing, will encourage you to interrogate how the very idea of modernity is conceptualised and contested. In reading these texts, you will come to understand, and engage in critique of, the modern political concepts - rights, freedom, equality, democracy, civil society, property, revolution, the state, and modernity itself - that continue to animate our civic discussions as well as the intellectual traditions (liberalism, Idealism, Marxism) of the modern period.

This module aims:

• To introduce you to the some of the most important texts and traditions (in Western political thought) through the study of selected texts.
• To enable your understanding of how political arguments fit together to form complex philosophical theories and, by extension, of how ostensibly discrete political viewpoints are actually embedded in a whole network of beliefs.
• To develop your ability to critically assess both theoretical texts and subsequent interpretations of them.
• To encourage you to think critically about individual political ideas as well as about the notion of modernity after the French Revolution.

View an example full module specification

ARA3103: Advanced Arabic Language

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilisation. This is an advanced-level module that extends your knowledge of the language, honing your ability to communicate orally and textually on a full compliment of subjects and register. It provides you with the means and opportunity to take your Arabic reading, writing, oral and aural skills to level C1 or C2 (mastery-proficiency) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, the module will deepen your exposure to Arabic cultural expression. You will use a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers.

The pre-requisites are successful completion of ARA2139. If you have prior knowledge of Arabic acquired outside of your degree programme or have not completed the prerequisite modules, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

View an example full module specification

ARA3106: Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial individual research project, which provides you with the opportunity to engage in in-depth and sustained research on a subject of interest. You should choose your topic in consultation with a supervisor from the Institute.

This project aims to allow you to acquire knowledge of a particular subject, to benefit from one-to-one tuition from a specialist in the field, and to develop their research skills. These include the ability to collate, assess, analyse and order material from relevant types of sources, and the ability to communicate ideas, arguments and findings in academic prose.

View an example full module specification