The Middle East is a region often described as ‘dripping with identity politics’ (Telhami and Barnett, 2002:3). This module aims to familiarise students with competing identities of various forms and how they have shaped international relationships in the Middle East. The module will introduce students to theoretical and empirical debates about identity politics and the international relations of the Middle East through several themes, such as supranational identities (pan-Islamism and pan-Arabism), national identities, ethnic identities, tribalism, sectarianism, and religion. It will also introduce students to the analytical tools to grasp identity politics from various theoretical debates within IR Theory, Middle East Studies, Religious studies, and Sociology. By the end of the module, students should have gained an insight into how these theoretical approaches have been, or could be, applied to understand how identity politics are shaping Middle East international relations.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the major theoretical and analytical approaches to the study of identity and its various forms.
Demonstrate an understanding of the content of identity politics at multiple levels of analysis (supranational, national, and sub-national) that are shaping international relationships in the region.
Critically evaluate various analytical and conceptual tools in explaining particular regional events pertaining to identity politics.
Acquire specific knowledge of how these various forms of identity affect war, peace, conflict, and cooperation in the Middle East.
Assessment
35210-01 : 1,500 Word book review : Coursework (25%)
35210-02 : 3,000 Word Essay : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment: 3000 word essay (70%) and 1500 word book review (30%)
Reassessment: N/A
