Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM082: International Relations of the Middle East

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Overview

NQF Level	7
Credits	30	ECTS Value	15
Term(s) and duration	This module ran during term 2 (11 weeks)
Academic staff	Professor Mick Dumper (Convenor)
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Available via distance learning	No

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a region of stark contrasts. From some perspectives it appears to have a strong cohesiveness, with numerous historical, cultural, religious and economic relations which bind it together into a unitary whole. From other perspectives, divisive forces, internal and external, historical and contemporary, are ever-present and seem to combine to fragment the region into several areas of conflict and competition. More recently, rebellion and the re-alignment of old alliances point to a new era of both division and the need for intensive reform or conflict management.

This module will acquaint you with the dynamics and main trends and events in the international politics of the MENA; and help you to explore whether and how particular International Relations approaches may be applied to the MENA. You will be guided in the range of views held by different authors and will be encouraged to both engage critically with them and develop your own positions.

Module created	01/10/2007	Last revised	13/09/2021