Insegnamento a.a. 2026-2027

To introduce students to the politics of the Middle East and North Africa, the course will begin by providing important historical context before moving to discuss contemporary political developments in the region. Students will first receive an overview of historical state formation, the nature and consequences of colonial rule, and the emergence of nationalist resistance and independent states. Next, the course will analyze modes of authoritarian governance in MENA as well as the political economy of the region.

With this foundation established, the remainder of the course will focus on important issues of contemporary politics in the region. Lectures will cover the Arab uprisings and their aftermath; wars and conflicts; the political role of state religious establishments and attitudes toward religion in politics; the emergence, rise, and then decline of political Islam; the politics of social issues including gender and migration; and the dynamics of international affairs in the region. Throughout the course, particular attention will be given to several key themes, such as the interaction between religion and politics, the factors that sustain authoritarianism, political violence and conflicts, and the role of popular politics in driving political change.
 

- Describe the historical roots of modern governance and political challenges in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Explain the major political, economic, and social transformations in the contemporary Middle East.
- Identify how religion shapes and is shaped by politics in the MENA region.
- State the reasons for the resilience of authoritarianism in Middle Eastern states.
- Illustrate the influence of conflict on political developments in the region.
- Summarize the forms of popular politics in MENA and their impact on regional governance.

- Apply theories of political science to analyze and interpret Middle East politics.
- Synthesize and discuss academic debates and diverse perspectives on Middle Eastern political issues.
- Identify and collect reliable information from various sources on Middle East politics.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills through presentations, debates, and essay writing.
- Evaluate and scientifically assess contemporary arguments about the political and economic issues in the Middle East.
- Collaborate effectively in small groups to compare scholarly explanations and develop shared arguments.

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

- Guest speakers may be invited to share their expertise on the Middle East.

- Students individually complete reading quizzes and the final written exam, applying course concepts to analyze political developments in the region.

- Students work in stable small groups throughout the semester to compare scholarly explanations of major topics and develop their own positions. The students may also have group debates in which student teams defend opposing positions and respond to each other. Each team also submits a co-authored paper alongside their debate presentation.
 

The assessment of attending students consists of the following components:

- Class participation: Based on attendance, contributions to class discussions, and in-class group work. It verifies students' ability to discuss diverse perspectives, communicate orally, and collaborate in small groups.

- Group paper and presentation: Students work in groups on a short paper and presentation on an assigned topic. It verifies their ability to apply political science theories to Middle East politics, gather reliable information, communicate in writing and orally, and collaborate effectively.

- Final Exam: A mix of short-answer and essay questions, possibly with multiple-choice and/or fill-in-the-blank items, covering the whole course. It verifies that students have acquired the core knowledge of the course and can evaluate and assess contemporary arguments about Middle East politics.

- In-class quizzes: Short quizzes on the assigned readings. They verify that students have done the readings and acquired the foundational knowledge underpinning the course's analytical outcomes.
 

The final exam will consist of a mix of short-answer and essay questions, possibly with  multiple-choice and/or fill-in-the-blank items, covering the whole course. It  verifies that students have acquired the core knowledge of the course and can  evaluate and assess contemporary arguments about Middle East politics.

William L. Cleveland and Martin Bunton, A History of the Modern Middle East (6th/7th edition).

William L. Cleveland and Martin Bunton, A History of the Modern Middle East (6th/7th edition).