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Language of instruction
Duration
Identical coursesThe Modern Middle East (B-KUL-F0AT9A)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contractAims
At the end of this course students are able to:
- Explain how several Sunni groups from the context of the modern Middle East relate to politics
- Expound in detail upon the developments around the Arab Spring in their own words.
- Share insights into the way religion and politics may be interwoven in different countries of the modern Middle East
- Give an MA-level presentation
- Write an MA-level paper
Previous knowledge
None
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
6 ects. The Modern Middle East (B-KUL-F0AT9a)
Content
Through a fixed set of themes we will discuss several countries of the modern Middle East during this course. The focus is predominantly put on the developments in the domain of Islam and politics from the end of the twentieth century until present times. We will focus on different sectarian groups from the Sunni spectrum, such as Salafis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and neo-traditionalists. Important themes that will be covered are the rise and aftermath of the so-called ‘Arabian Spring’ and several ways in which sectarian identity is exploited in the political domain. During the classes the students are to participate actively in discussing and reflecting on the literature. Over the course of the semester they will work on a paper on a topic of their own choosing, on which they will give a presentation during a mini-conference at the end of the course.
Course material
The teacher will provide the students with literature in the form of a reader.
Evaluation
Evaluation: The Modern Middle East (B-KUL-F2AT9a)
Explanation
- The student gives a presentation during a "mini-conference" on the progress of the paper (20%)
- The student finishes a weekly task (10%)
- The student writes a paper (70%)
Information about retaking exams
- When the paper is not handed in before the established deadline without a valid excuse, the student gets an extra week to hand in the paper, though with the loss of 2 points from the final grade. When the paper is judged insufficient, the student is to write a new paper for which the deadline will be established in the retake period.
- There is no resit for the grade for participation, and the grade is transferred to September.