NS3345 International Relations of the Middle East

The Middle East is one of the most conflict-prone regions of the world. Great powers now, as in the past, view the Middle East as an arena for local alliances and competition by proxy actors. In this general survey course, we will study the international politics of the Middle East from WWI to the present. We will explore how the great powers have shaped the region's borders, identities, and conflicts. It will also make sense of the foreign policies of pivotal regional states such as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. 

Prerequisite

No prerequisites required

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

0

Statement Of Course Objectives

 

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe how the modern Middle East state system came into being and what role imperial powers and local actors played in the formation of state boundaries since WWI.
• Discuss U.S. interests in the Middle East during the Cold War and explain how they have evolved in the decades following the end of the Cold War.
• Explain why territorially revisionist ideologies such as Pan-Arab Nationalism and Pan-Islamism failed to transform the modern Middle East state system.
• Outline the milestones of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the competing narratives surrounding that conflict, and explain the four obstacles to a Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement.
• Explore why nonstate armed actors are playing a major role in shaping Middle Eastern politics and conflicts.
• Derive lessons from past great power competition in the Middle East and discuss how they might inform U.S. strategy today.