The Contemporary Middle East and North Africa: Politics, Culture, and Society - JPM065

• Title: The Contemporary Middle East and North Africa: Politics, Culture, and Society
• Guaranteed by: Department of International Relations (23-KMV)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unlimited (25)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová

Annotation

Last update: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová (06.09.2023)

After 9/11 and the subsequent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) became one of the most studied regions in the world. However, MENA is still covered in various prejudices and media biases and is often regarded as a predominantly "backward, violent, and angry" region. This course will challenge these assumptions and stereotypes while examining MENA’s modern history, cultures, religions, and politics. This course thus offers a fresh perspective on this multifaceted region and puts a special emphasis on its people, society, and culture; essential elements often neglected elsewhere.
Therefore, it is important for students to keep in mind that this course does not deal with a comprehensive history of the ME nor offers an overview of its modern conflicts. Instead, we will focus on various Middle Eastern groups that are often marginalized (religious groups, ethnicities, women, tribes, sects, LGBTQ+, protesters but also ordinary people). Together we will discuss how these groups form and influence the politics of the contemporary Middle East. The genealogical relationships between the groups will be outlined and framed within a modern historical context (mainly post-colonial, see Block A below) to highlight the dynamic nature of Middle Eastern diversity. We will also address why and how impressions of the "stagnant East" may often be misleading in international politics.
During the semester, we will focus on gaining new knowledge and skills to analyse and evaluate information, introducing students to contemporary culture and ideas, and ultimately promoting empathy, understanding, and tolerance.

Aim of the course

Last update: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová (06.09.2023)

After the completion of the course, the students will be able to:

·       present multiple perspectives on the diversity of contemporary politics, religion, ethnicity, and culture

·       analyse and synthesize information—and form their own opinions—from multiple sources

·       unveil and critique cultural stereotypes of the MENA

·       identify propaganda and biases in various media that try to shape the disseminated messages

·       develop empathy, tolerance, and connections with the people of the Middle East 

Course completion requirements

Last update: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová (05.10.2023)

Successful completion of this course requires first and foremost active interest in the subject matter. On the formal level, this means you should:

Actively participate in class (10%): Attend classes on a regular basis and engage in discussions with your peers. Please note that you should not miss more than two classes during the semester.

Prepare MENA update/news (10%): At the beginning of each class, 2-3 students will prepare an update from the Middle East of their choice (once per semester). 

Do weekly assignments (40%): Before each class (except for class 1 and class 12), students are required to go through the readings and provide a short reflection on the assigned literature in Moodle.

Wite and present final paper (40%): The students are asked to write a final paper at the end of the semester. Please note that we will have a discussion over your papers in the exam period (in groups of 3-4 students) in order for you to successfully finish the course.

You need to obtain 51% of points or more from the readings and final paper as well as the entire course.

The following grading scheme is applied:

100-91: A
90-81: B
80-71: C
70-61: D
60-51: E
50 or less: F (fail)

Literature

Last update: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová (06.09.2023)

All the required readings are available in pdf. format on the Moodle site: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=15207

For details, please see the attached syllabus.

Teaching methods

Last update: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová (06.09.2023)

The course consists of weekly seminars, your presence is highly required since it is based on in-class discussions. Students are asked as well to do weekly assignments in Moodle.

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Tereza Plíštilová (11.09.2023)

The course is divided into three thematic parts. In the first part (block A), we will deal with introductory topics. These topics will cover only a brief historical overview, the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, and the role of religions and religious and ethnic minorities in the MENA. In the second part of the course (block B), we will shift our attention to modern political thought that shaped the social and political movements in the Middle East. Finally, in the third part of the course, we will focus on gender politics in the ME, especially women, their clothing, and LGBTQ+ “rights”. We will also discuss modernity and how it is understood in the ME. 

Block A:

1. Introduction (4th October)

2. A brief history of the modern ME: from the the Ottoman Empire to Arab nationalism (11th October)

3. How religion shapes MENA's political systems and societies (18th October)

4. Ethnic and religious minorities in the ME (25th October)

Block B:

5. Islamic fundamentalism and Political Islam (1st November)

6. The Religious Far Right in Israel, guest seminar w/ Jakub Záhora (8th November)

7. Revolutions and Protest movements in the ME (15th November)

8. Arab Spring or Arab Winter? (22nd November)

Block C: 

9. Clothing, LBTQ+ "rights" (29th November)

10. Modernity, contemporary art and culture and its implications for politics (6th December)

11. Women and gender roles in the Middle East (Women in Judaism, guest seminar w/ Timea Crofony) (13th December)

12. Perceptions of the West in the Middle East (20th December)