Politics of the Middle East

This course offers students an overview of modern Middle Eastern politics. The course will first provide a historical analysis outlining the conditions that shape the formation and consolidation of authoritarian rule in modern Middle Eastern states. We will examine the political economy of the region, Islamic politics, state-society relations, wars, and other topics as probable explanatory variables to authoritarian persistence. Through case studies, the course will also focus on the impact of authoritarian rule on the political economy, civil societies, and opposition movements in the region.