POL2418H1S L5101
Undergraduate Course Code: POL479H1S L5101
Topics in Middle East Politics
Contesting Authoritarianisms in the Middle East
Themes
The course examines the contemporary politics of the Middle East and North Africa. It seeks to examine the relative importance of political, socio-economic and ideological factors in the context of such issues as the resilience of authoritarianism, the rise of civil society, and the resurgence of Islamic activism. Theoretical discussion is followed by case studies.
Texts
Oliver Schlumberger, Debating Arab Authoritarianism: Dynamics and Durability in Nondemocratic Regimes, (2007); Quintan Wictorowicz, Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Approach, (2004); and Joel Beinin and Frederic Vairel, Social Movements, Mobilization, and Contestation in the Middle East and North Africa (2011).
Format and Requirements
The course will be divided into two parts. The first will be organized around a series of article presentations by students followed by discussion. The second part will be organized around student seminars on selected topics. These seminars will be the basis for the major paper. All students will also be required to write an analytical book critique/review.