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CS92PROD
Globalization and the Politics of the Middle East

GOVT 294
Spring 2012 not offered
Certificates: International Relations

The seminar explores major questions regarding the evolving role of the state, the nature of citizenship, opposition movements, and state-society relations in the Middle East within the theoretical framework of globalization. The focus of the course is on the interplay of external influences rooted in the global economy and domestic political systems. Students will grapple with major theoretical debates about globalization as a structural, ideational, and technology-related phenomenon. They will be encouraged to move beyond the dominant Middle Eastern exceptionalism narrative by exploring the impact of globalization at several levels. These include the prevailing development trajectories across the region, the reconfiguration of state-society relations in light of the neoliberal model, social policy and welfare regimes, identity politics, transnational social movements, as well as the new media and the emergence of new forms of political activism. Students will draw theoretical inferences based on the regional literature and critically apply theoretical frameworks from the globalization literature to effectively analyze socioeconomic and political developments in the contemporary Middle East.

Essential Capabilities: Intercultural Literacy, Logical Reasoning
The course supports two sets of essential capabilities. These are logical reasoning and intercultural literacy. Students will master the skill of critically evaluating the cogency of arguments from the general literature on globalization, as well as assessing their relevance to the Middle Eastern context. In addition, they will be required to empirically investigate various facets of politics in the region, and to identify the weaknesses/ strengths of alternative arguments from the regional literature. Since the course will require a major research paper, students will also be required to construct logically consistent, empirically sound, and theoretically valid arguments related to the course themes. In addition, students will explore questions such as, how and to what extent have globalization dynamics transformed the politics of the region? And, has the region¿s experience been atypical? By encouraging students to comparatively reflect on empirical developments in Middle Eastern polities during the era of globalization, as well as to move beyond the notion of culturally rooted exceptionalism, the course will foster greater understanding of the region¿s culture. Further, the course will deepen the students¿ comparative reflection on the impact of globalization on societies and political systems in the developed and developing world.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (GOVT)(GOVT-Comparativ)

Last Updated on MAR-29-2024
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