POS 3033 Politics in the Middle East
This course will critically examine issues facing the current Middle East and North Africa. First, we will examine the historical development of what is referred to as "the Middle East" beginning with the advent of Western colonialism and imperialism, then the impact of the Cold War, democratization movements, and finally the "war on terror" and its resultant production of sectarian violence. Of particular interest will be the cases of Israel and Palestine, the Iranian Revolution and the creation of a theocratic Muslim state, the Arab Spring movement, the ongoing conflict in Iraq and Syria, and the role of global and regional terror groups, i.e. Al Qaeda and ISIS. Also we will discuss the role of natural resources, specifically oil and water, and how they play a role in domestic and international relations in the region.