Contemporary Middle-Eastern politics
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: HPC47
Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The Middle East remains the global hotbed of conflict and instability where religion still plays a dominant role in the life and politics of society. This course will aim through a combination of teaching and participant discussion to not only provide a historical perspective but to connect, evaluate and understand contemporary politics and events in the region.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- Introduction;The Issue of the Middle East
- The Shadow of the Caliphate - Sykes - Picot and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
- America Entrance in the Middle East and the struggle with Britain
- Saudi Arabia, America and the Significance of Oil
- The Creation of Israel 1948 and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- The Iranian Revolution and its Significance
- End of the Cold War: American Hegemony and the New Middle East
- 9/11 and the Middle East
- The Arab Spring and Democracy in the Middle East
- Conclusion.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Demonstrate you have gained the fundamental knowledge and principles of Middle East politics
- Connect and interpret the knowledge with respect to contemporary issues in the region.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background reading. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to read relevant works will increase what you get out of the course. However, as with most of our history and current affairs courses, an open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will run online with Interactive lecture and group discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No, apart from note-taking materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please check out our other History, Politics and Current Affairs courses on the broader Middle East and North Africa region.
Dr. Noman Hanif is a lecturer at Birkbeck with the department of politics. He specialises in global politics and international security with particular focus on the Middle East and Political Islam. He has a PhD in International relations from Royal Holloway, University of London. Dr. Hanif has taught at other universities including Kent, Royal Holloway and Exeter. Between 2009/10, he was visiting professor in global political Islam at the University of West Virginia, US.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
