Course descriptor

Course descriptor

Title of the course	Political Process, Economic Development and Cultural Identity in the Middle East
Title of the Academic Programme	Master in State, Society and Economic Development in Modern Asia
Type of the course	Elective
Prerequisites	Sociopolitical History of Modern Asia, Regional Aspects of Contemporary Political, Social and Economic Processes in Asia
ECTS workload	4
Total indicative study hours	Directed Study	Self-directed study	Total
	46	106	152
Course Overview	The course examines problems of cultural identity formation in the countries of the Middle East in the context of modern political processes, governance model transition in some of these countries, and emergence of new states on the political map of the region.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)	Students will: -understand roots and evolution of political systems on the Middle East - understand political culture of the Middle East societies -understand models of economic development of the Middle East - understand roots and development of cultural identity of the Middle East societies
Indicative Course Content	Political System on the Middle East. Economic Models on the Middle East. Cultural Identity on the Middle East. Islamism, tribalism and nationalism.
Teaching and Learning Methods	The course consists of lectures (23 hours) and seminars (23 hours). The seminars involve student presentations of individual assignments (projects).
Indicative Assessment Methods and Strategy	Students’ progress will be measured by assessment of an individual presentation (30%), essay (20%) and a final exam. The final exam will take the form of a written exam that amounts to 50% of the final grade.
Readings / Indicative Learning Resources	Mandatory Adam Hanieh. Lineages of Revolt: Issues of Contemporary Capitalism in the Middle East. Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2013. Schwedler, Jillian, ed. Understanding the Contemporary Middle East Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2013. Optional Achcar, Gilbert, The People Want: A Radical Exploration of the Arab Uprising. London: Saqi, 2013. Tarek Osman. Islamism. Yale University Press, 2016
Course Instructor	Ass. Prof. T. Zhidkova