Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM651: State and Society in 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	Miss Billie Brownlee (Lecturer)
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Available via distance learning	No

This module explores key concepts, themes, ideologies and issues which are crucial to an understanding of the politics and society of the Modern Middle East. Thus in the module you will examine the interaction between institutions and ideas of the state, and the social context in which the state is rooted. It investigates theoretical and empirical questions related state-society interaction. Concepts such as civil society, class, tribe, sect, gender, religion, and informal politics are integral part of the examination of state-society relations. Course readings are interdisciplinary and include works of history, sociology, political science, economy, anthropology and human rights advocacy. Seminars take a closer look at the key concepts and theories analysed in the lecture by looking at one or two case studies. This allows students to expand their empirical knowledge of the Middle East, as well as their knowledge of debates in the field. Furthermore, students may choose which countries to focus on in their assessed work, so have the option of developing special expertise in particular areas of interest. Overall, the module enriches your understanding of the history, society and politics of the Middle East and therefore benefits their overall academic curricula.

No specific pre-requisite skills are required to take this module.

Module created	01/10/2008	Last revised	17/10/2022