Bachelor
2025/2026
Area Studies: Middle East
Type:
Elective course (International Programme 'International Relations and Global Studies')
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 1, 2 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Andrey Zeltyn
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course is designed to explore historical roots, ethno-religious foundations and contemporary evolutions in the Greater Middle East (GME). The main attention is focused on the regional and international relations of the countries of the GME in the Modern Times, the power play pursued by the external actors and the currents from within shaping the future of one of the most important regions in the world.
Learning Objectives
- • familiarize students with the major historical developments and in either region • analyse the major challenges the region is currently facing in different spheres • focus on both internal and external dimensions of the region
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Explains how the "Arab Spring" originated in North Africa and the specifications of Egypt due to its historical importance and the impact its politics have had on other Arab and Muslim countries.
- Discusses After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure.
- Students will be able to define different concepts such as war and peace
- Be able to examine how society can be fragmented along lines of religion, language, ethnicity and income
- General understanding of key historical, political, and social aspects in Iran since 1921;
- The students receive comprehensive knowledge of the history of the Middle East
- Understands the contradiction between tradition and innovation in Islamic societies
Course Contents
- The Making of the Middle East
- The Rise of the Pious and the Struggle in the Path of God
- Modern Frames Ancient Puzzles
- Militarising and Pacifying the Middle East as problem making and problem solving strategies
- The New “Great Game” and the “Arab Spring”
- Historical Foes on the Road to Reconciliation
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Abrahamian, E. (2008). A History of Modern Iran. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=234374
- Al Qaeda in its own words, , 2008
- Aproaches to the history of the Middle East : interviews with leading Middle East historians, Gallagher, N. E., 1996
- Arab spring dreams : the next generation speaks out for freedom and justice from North Africa to Iran, , 2012
- Arab spring in Egypt: revolution and beyond, , 2014
- Bligh, A. (2014). Redefining the Post-Nation-State Emergence Phase in the Middle East in Light of the “Arab Spring.” Journal of the Middle East & Africa, 5(3), 201–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520844.2014.964139
- Carmon, A. (2019). Building Democracy on Sand: Israel lacks a constitution——and any clear idea of where it is going. A new book takes up the unanswered questions of the Jewish state. Hoover Digest: Research & Opinion on Public Policy, 19(4), 110–117. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=139170620
- Hamid, T. (2015). Inside Jihad : How Radical Islam Works; Why It Should Terrify Us; How to Defeat It. [Mountain Lake Park, Maryland]: D Street Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1202692
- Hoffman, M., & Jamal, A. (2014). Religion in the Arab Spring: Between Two Competing Narratives. Journal of Politics, 76(3), 593–606. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381614000152
- Iran facing others : identity boundaries in a historical perspective, , 2012
- Lapidus, I. M. . (DE-588)124445977, (DE-576)294175717. (2014). A history of Islamic societies / Ira M. Lapidus. New York: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.425657388
- Mansfield, P., & Pelham, N. (2013). A History of the Middle East : Fourth Edition (Vol. Fourth edition revised and updated by Nicolas Pelham). New York: Penguin Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1113506
- Moussalli, A. S. (2001). Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam By Reuven Firestone (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999), 206 pp. Price HB {pound}17.99. ISBN 0-19-512580-0. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.7390C2FE
- Sacred causes : religion and politics from the European dictators to Al Qaeda, Burleigh, M., 2006
- Young generation awakening: economics, society, and policy on the Eve of the Arab Spring, , 2016
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- A companion to the history of the Middle East, , 2008
- A fresh look at Islam in a multi-faith world : a philosophy for success through education, Wilkinson, M. L. N., 2015
- Aoudé, I. G. (2019). Conflict over Oil and Gas in the Mediterranean: Israeli Expansionism in Lebanon. Arab Studies Quarterly, 41(1), 95–110. https://doi.org/10.13169/arabstudquar.41.1.0095
- Bennett, B., & Hincks, J. (2019). Bibi’s Israel. (cover story). TIME Magazine, 194(3), 30.
- Gendzier, I. L. (2015). Dying to Forget : Oil, Power, Palestine, and the Foundations of U.S. Policy in the Middle East. New York: Columbia University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1094840
- Jihad : from qur'an to bin Laden, Bonney, R., 2004
- Jihad : the trail of political islam, Kepel, G., 2009
- Michael Axworthy. (2016). A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind. Basic Books.