The Middle East occupies a particular place in the Western imaginary. It is depicted in Orientalist terms as a hopeless region marked by backwardness, savageness and relentless violence. This course examines the dynamics of the Middle East and its place in global politics. You will gain an appreciation of the patterns of relationships between the states of the Middle East and the nature of the systems of government in the region.

You will investigate topics such as the conflicts in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the rise of ISIS, and the impact of United States policies and liberal interventions on the Middle East. Topics will also include grassroots political mobilisation and democratisation processes in the Middle East, focusing on the Arab revolutions (also known as the Arab Spring), labour movements, and women’s and LGBTQAI rights activism.