Middle East Politics and Security Dynamics

Module code: PES7043-B

Module Aims

To develop knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and security dynamics in the Middle East region (including the Middle East,North Africa and the Persian Gulf), and of their historcial context.
To develop an advanced understanding of the regional, sub-regional and transnational factors and processes of political change and security challenges in this region, and their interlationships with local, national and global actors and processes.
To enable you to develop advanced analyses of complex political and security issues and processes in the Middle East region, and to apply relevant theoretical frameworks for such analyses
To develop the knowledge and capacity to critically engage with contemporary policy debates concerning possible international, regional and local responses to specific political and security challenges in the region
To provide the opportunity to apply learning in analysing, articulating and writing on
complex theories and ideas and relating them to events in the region.

Outline Syllabus

The syllabus will include examination of the main processes of political change and security dynamics in the Middle East region, focussing particularly on developments since 2005 while placing these in historical context; and examination and critical review of key perspectives and theoretical frameworks for analysing and understanding such processes.Examination of regional and sub-regional security complexes in the region, and their inter-relationships with societal political movements and international and global actors and factors.

Examination of specific key issue areas, including characteristics and challenges of political structures and processes, and dfferent security issues. These will include understanding political Islam in the region and its relationship with transnational 'jihadi' terrorist networks; civil wars and conflicts and their aftermath; the relationship between religious/ethnic identity, democratisation, gender, state building; the relationship between conflcit, security and development; the politics and security of oil, gas and other natural resources in the region; and the regionally-specific challenges of arms control, disarmament and confidence-building.

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