Бакалавриат
2026/2027
Политика и общество на Ближнем Востоке
ID 1123559
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Политология и мировая политика)
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук
Когда читается:
3-й курс, 1, 2 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
3
Контактные часы:
48
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course will focus on the recent history and politics of the Middle East. Through lectures and seminars, the course describes the political and societal dynamics of the region, offering students a nuanced understanding of the key processes. Key themes include conceptualizations of the region, state building, ethnicity, etc.
Learning Objectives
- The primary goal of this class is to provide students with an overview of the major contemporary issues and tendencies in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Analyses post-colonial transformation in the MENA states
- applies the concepts of state building and state fragility; ethnicity, language, nationhood, nation building and nationalism; (ethnic) conflict and violence to analysis of the MENA politics and societies
- understands the role of gender, family, religion, formal and informal networks and institutions in state-society relations in the MENA
- develops knowledge of conflicts and conflict resolution in the MENA has an overview of historic and political background of all the MENA is able to critically analyse current political and societal situation in the MENA understands the role of different global actors in the region understands the role of tradition and informality institutions, culture, religion in the MENA
Course Contents
- Colonialism in the MENA
- Independence
- State-building and domestic political systems in Maghreb
- State-building and domestic political systems in Mashriq
- State-building and domestic political systems In Israel, Iran, Turkey
- The MENA in international relations
- Culture and art in the MENA
- Gender and family
- Religion
- Civil Society
- Global governance in the MENA
- Contemporary conflicts in the MENA
- The Caliphate and the Rise of Islam
- Egypt and the Ottomans
Assessment Elements
- In-class participationThe seminars are held in two formats: 1) Discussion of the assigned reading. Sample questions: How would you evaluate the role of the state security services in ensuring security in Lebanon? Who were cronies and old oligarchs in Egypt after 2013? What were their relationships with each other and with the regime? Can we describe Iranian political system as a resilient to external and domestic shocks? 2) Short tasks or debates related to the articles from home reading. One of such examples is as follows: Choose one of the two women below and prepare a short research on her public image. Divide into two teams (One group chose Moza bint Nasser al-Misnad, another one Emine Erdoğan). How is she presented in official and media sources? What are the main positive elements of her image? What are the main negative elements, critiques, or controversies? What makes her image persuasive, weak, or vulnerable? What recommendations could improve her public image?
- Book Review (up to 1500 words)Students need to read a book from the list provided by the course instructor and write a short book review (1000-1500 words). The review is due 10 days prior to the exam period in the module 3.
- QuizQuizzes are held in written format twice during the semester, each based on lecture materials. The quizzes consist of multiple choice questions. The examples are as follows: What were the followers of the Islamic movement who advocated for the transfer of power within the Muslim community through the Prophet’s lineage called? A). Sunnis B). Hanafis C). Shiites D). Hanbalis What was the name of the tribe from which the Prophet Muhammad descended? A). Quraysh B). Taglib C). Kalb D). Hanifa
- PresentationStudents should form small teams of three or four people. The presentation should cover a foreign policy topic in the MENA region, such as relations between regional actors or local countries' relations with external states. Presenters are supposed to cover required and optional readings and, preferably, use other non-assigned sources for their analysis of the chosen topic in order to make a genuinely original contribution. For group presentation – please use the core readings and two readings of your choice from the optional list assigned for each class.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.5 * In-class participation + 0.15 * Quiz + 0.15 * Presentation + 0.2 * Book Review (up to 1500 words)
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- A short history of British colonial policy, Egerton, H. E., 2010
- Bank, A. (DE-576)187604169. (2015). Comparative Area Studies and Middle East Politics after the Arab Uprisings / André Bank. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.444964142
- Colonial urban development : culture, social power and environment, King, A. D., 2010
- DEL SARTO, R. A. (2017). Contentious borders in the Middle East and North Africa: context and concepts. International Affairs, 93(4), 767–787. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix070
- Geiger, M., & Pécoud, A. (2014). International Organisations and the Politics of Migration. Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies, 40(6), 865–887. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2013.855071
- Mirskii, G. I. (2003). “Political Islam” and Western Society. Russian Social Science Review, 44(3), 63. https://doi.org/10.2753/RSS1061-1428440363
- Smith, L. V. (2016). Drawing Borders in the Middle East after the Great War: Political Geography and ‘Subject Peoples.’ First World War Studies, 7(1), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475020.2016.1159594
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Williams, P., & Chrisman, L. (2013). Colonial Discourse and Post-Colonial Theory : A Reader. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1052363