Area Studies: Middle East

2025/2026

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Лучший по критерию «Полезность курса для Вашей будущей карьеры»

Лучший по критерию «Полезность курса для расширения кругозора и разностороннего развития»

Лучший по критерию «Новизна полученных знаний»

Кто читает:

Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

2-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Преподаватель

Зелтынь Андрей Владимирович

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. Use of AI: allowed as a means of researching existing material.

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

Assessment Elements

• Brief Essay
• Экзамен
• Speaking out

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 2nd module
  0.25 * Speaking out + 0.5 * Brief Essay + 0.25 * Экзамен

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• A history of Islamic societies, Lapidus, I. M., 2002
• 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
• Beyond terror and martyrdom : the future of the Middle East, Kepel, G., 2008
• Democratic transition in the Middle East : unmaking power, , 2013
• Iran facing others : identity boundaries in a historical perspective, , 2012
• 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
• Jihad : from qur'an to bin Laden, Bonney, R., 2004
• Jihad : the trail of political islam, Kepel, G., 2009

Authors

• Kuznetsova Elena Viktorovna
• Zeltyn Andrei Vladimirovich
• Zakharova Elizaveta Sergeevna