International Relations of the Middle East

JEWISH, ISLAMIC AND MIDDLE EAST STUDIES 3302

Why did all of Syria's neighbors intervene in the country's decade-long civil war? Why are Arab states like the United Arab Emirates establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, and how is the war in Gaza reshaping the region? Does religion matter for Iran's and Saudi Arabia's foreign policies? If so, how? In this course, we take a comparative approach toward the international relations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to explore these kinds of questions. As we do so, we critically examine the historical emergence of the region's nation-states and international system from the end of World I to the present day. Throughout the course, we consider a wide of range of themes including international law and institutions, political economy, religion and minorities, states' foreign and security policies, the geopolitics of tourism and migrant labor, as well as matters of war and peace. We also interrogate the role of outside powers in the region, such as China, Russia, India, and the US, and consider the history and politics of who gets to decide what American 'interests' in the region really are.
Course Attributes: EN H; AS HUM; AS LCD

Section 01

International Relations of the Middle East
INSTRUCTOR: Warren
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