Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
2SBU532International Relations of the Middle East3+0+03701.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (With Thesis)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The purpose of this course is to have students;
- focus on the theoretical context of politics in the Middle East,
- question the background and root causes of the Middle East politics,
- observe the foreign incursion in the Middle East,
- understand the dynamics of the Middle East politics.
- interpret the contemporary politics in the Middle East.
Course Content The course will cover a wide range of themes those appear to be factors of shaping the currencies of the Middle East. In this sense inputs on varying aspects will be discussed to earth out the Middle East policies. The student need to (1) know the historical discourse and roots of the Middle East politics, (2) understand, search and analyze the middle East politics within an academic frame, and (3) present his/her thoughts pending to the theme of the week.
Each student will draft a paper on the identified question of every week, prior to the class. (!!!) Discussions will be built on the findings of the students based on their readings and drafted weekly papers. Papers will be 1000-1200 words in length.
The curriculum is in English. Turkish papers and discussions will not be accepted.
There will be a mid-term examination at the 8th week. You will write an essay in the classroom. (1000-1200 words)
Students are required to draft a term paper as an academic essay, which will be counted as final exam sheet. The essay will be 5000-7000 words in length and must be based on research. Each student will present his/her essay after 12th week and turn in the essay at the 14th week.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture, discussion-based lecture, Seminar
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof. Murat Aslan
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources WEEK-2 Arı Tayyar, Orta Doğu: Siyaset, Savaş ve Diplomasi (İstanbul: Alfa, 2004). Choueiri Youssef M., A Companion to the History of the Middle East (Malden (MA): Blackwell Publishing, 2005) Hourani Albert, The Emergence of the Modern Middle East (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1981) Lewis Bernard, The Arabs in History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993) WEEK-3 Halliday Fred, The Middle East in International Relations: Power, Politics and Ideology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005) Hinebusch Raymond, Internatioal Politics of the Middle East (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) WEEK-4 Hinnebusch Raymond, International Politics of the Middle East, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) Owen Roger, State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East (New York: Routledge, 2004) WEEK-5 Haddad Mahmood, “The Rise of Arab Nationalism Reconsidered”, International Studies of Middle East Studies, Volume 26, No. 2 (May 1994), pp. 201-222.
Course Notes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to realize PY-1 Fundamental Concepts and Theories, PY-4 Multi-disciplinary study, PY-5 Independent study, PY-6 Assume responsibility. In this sense, this course aims to realize the following outcomes:
• Build interdisciplinary conceptual understanding of the Middle East.
• Compare and contrast main theories and currents regarding the Middle East.
• Conduct thorough assessment of events in the Middle East with required parameters.
• Link theory to practice by examining different case studies.
• Assess the complex the dynamics of contemporary Middle East.

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
1
% 60

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 3 45
Assignments 15 3 45
Presentation 5 3 15
Mid-terms 1 10 10
Practice 2 10 20
Project 1 15 15
Final examination 1 15 15
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 PY-1 Temel Kavramlar ve Teoriler, PY-4 Çok disiplinli çalışma, PY-5 Bağımsız çalışma, PY-6 Sorumluluk üstlenme.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
2 HISTORICAL COURSE IN THE FORMATION OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST What historical facts have prominence for the current political design of the Middle East?
3 IR THEORIES AND THE MIDDLE EAST POLITICS Which theory best describes the politics in the Middle East?
4 STATE FORMATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST How can you explain the state formation and existence of the institutionalized state in comparison to the western hemisphere? Is there any gap?
5 Arab Nationalism Can we talk about ‘nationalism’ in the Middle East if state and society dynamics are concerned? Do you think that consciousness of nationalism exists in the Middle East?
6 POLITICAL ISLAM IN THE MIDDLE EAST Why did ‘political Islam’ appear to be recipe for the Middle East societies? Do you think that it is a solution for the oppressed?
7 DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST Discuss if democracy could find ground in the Middle East after the observed historical discourse.
8 MIDTERM EXAM
9 POLITICAL ECONOMY How does rentier state structure affect the pendulum of regime types in the Middle East?
10 MILITARY AFFAIRS Askeri müdahalenin hala Orta Doğu siyasetini domine ettiğini düşünüyor musunuz? Belirli zaman aralıklarını karşılaştırarak bir argüman oluşturun.
11 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
12 TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY ON THE MIDDLE EAST
13 SEMINAR
14 SEMINAR
15 SEMINAR
16 FINAL EXAM - TURN IN THE ARTICLE

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
All 2 3 3 4 2 3
C1 4 3 5 2

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant