2024/2025 History and international Relations of The Middle East (2024)

Learning outcomes

The course examines the historical development of the International Relations of the Middle East from the early XIX century to current events. At the end of the course, students will acquire a better understanding of: The patterns of interaction between local institutions (Empires, nation-states, regional organizations, sub and trans-national groups) and their counterparts in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa; The interaction between regional and global patterns of economic development; The influence of international factors on the patterns of state-building in the Middle East.Eventually, students will acquire the necessary tools to analyze critically the interaction between the agency of local and regional forces and international and global dynamics affecting the region. Students will also master the historiographic and political debate concerning the region; and will be able to elaborate analytical and interpretative products about the Middle East and its role in international politics.

Course contents

As for exchange students: the course is open exclusively to students (Erasmus, Overseas, …) enrolled in Master’s level degrees.

The course is organized in lectures and seminars, as detailed in the following program. The aim is to enhance the interaction between the Professor and students.

Frontal lectures (16hours) aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline. Seminars (12hours) aim to provide occasions for in-depth discussions of class materials and exercises. For the seminar section of the course, students will be divided in 2 groups. Students attend a total of 28 hours of classes.

Students are required to carefully read the assigned material before the class. Active participation through the discussion of existing scholarship and case studies is highly recommended.

Flexibility and changes on the structure of the course might take place due to emergency contingencies as well as suggestions from students.

Section A.

8 Lectures (2 hrs each) aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline and the political chronology of the region.

Section B (Seminars SEM1 and SEM2)

B. Two alternative Seminars of 6 lectures (2 hrs each) aim to provide occasions for in-depth discussions of specific topics

Section A

An international history of political orders in the WANA region: topics and dynamics.

During the Section A students will be provided with an introduction to the international history of the Middle East. Here below the topics for each lecture:

Introduction to the Course and the Review of International Studies on the Western Asia and North Africa: Historiography and IR Literature
From Empires to European Colonialism, XIX century -WWI
From Early Independence and the Mandates to the "Liberal 1950s"
Popular Nationalism, Cold War and Non-Alignment , 1960s
Oil Boom, Integration and Fragmentation: 1970s-1980s
Political Islam: from the "Awakening" to the State, 1970-1980s
From the Washington to the Dubai "Consensus": 1990s-2000s
Uprisings, Wars and Uprisings again amid International Rivalries and Global Competition, 2011-2024

Section B

The Power and Politics of International Integration in the WANA

This section aims at analysing some patterns of integration of Western Asia and North Africa into the different political and economic orders of the XX and XXI centuries. Dynamics of hegemony and resistance within and without the area will be highlighted through the case-studies of:

SEMINAR 1. The Global Cold War in Western Asia and North Africa (12 hours)

SEMINAR 2. Power and Integration in the Mediterranean Space (12 hours)

Students MUST choose and attend ONLY ONE among the two SEMINARS of Section B.

SEMINAR 1. The Global Cold War in WANA (12 hours)

A Chronology and Literature Review of the CW in WANA
Anti-colonialism and Postcolonial Nationalism in WANA
The US and the Western Camp in WANA
The USSR and the Socialist Camp in WANA
Political Islam and CW in WANA
The end of CW and its Impact on WANA

SEMINAR 2. Power and Integration in the Mediterranean Space (12 hours).

The EU-Mediterranean Relations in International and Global History 1: XIX-XX centuries
The EU-Mediterranean Relations in International and Global History 2: XX-XXI centuries
The EU-Mediterranean space: Development and Socio-Economic Divisions
The Middle East in the Mediterranean: Frameworks and Policies by Middle East countries the XXI Century
The US in the Mediterranean: Frameworks and Policies in XXI Centuries
Russia and China in the Mediterranean: Frameworks and Policies in XXI Centuries

Readings/Bibliography

All students are required to study the Main Textbook.

The Readings of Section 1 are recommended as a further integration to the main Textbook.

Instead, the Readings of the Seminars are compulsory before each, related class.

All the Readings will be available on the Unibo online platform VIRTUALE (https://virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/) since early September.

Main Textbook

James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East. A History, Oxford, Oxford University Press, III ed., 2011 and later editions

Readings

Readings, which relate to the specific topics of single lectures, will be uploaded on the online platform VIRTUALE (https://virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/) since next early September.

These readings will provide students with more differentiated analysis on the topics under scrutiny, with two aims: first, to let them acknowledge the current scientific debate; second, to stimulate active participation to in-depth discussions during classes, both with Professor and colleagues.

List of Readings

Sections A

Lecture 1:

Fred Lawson, "International Relations Theory and the Middle East" in Louise Fawcett (eds.), International Relations of the Middle East, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2013
Raymond Hinnebusch, "The Middle East in the world hierarchy: imperialism and resistance", Journal of International Relations and Development, 2011, 14, (213–246)

Lecture 2:

Amira Bennison, "Muslim Universalism and Western Globalization" in A.G. Hopkins (eds.), Globalization in History and History in Globalization, Pimlico, London, 2002
Einar Wigen, "Ottoman Concepts of Empire",Contributions to the History of Concepts,8, 1,2 2013, 44–66

Lecture 3:

Raymond Hinnebusch, The International Politics of the Middle East, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003 and 2015, chp 4, "State Formation and International Behaviour"
Nazih Ayubi,Over-stating the Arab State. Politics and Society in the Middle East,London, IB Tauris, chp 3
Yezid Sayigh, "Armed Struggle and State Formation", Journal of Palestine Studies, 26, 4, Summer, 1997, pp. 17-32

Lecture 4:

Peter Sluglett, "The Cold War in the Middle East" in Louise Fawcett (eds.), International Relations of the Middle East, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Matthieu Rey, "How Did the Middle East Meet the West? The International United Nations Agencies’ Surveys in the 1950s", Middle Eastern Studies, 49:3, 477-493.

Lecture 5:

Teaching methods

The course is based on a combination of Frontal Lectures, Discussions and Guest Lectures.

1. Frontal Lectures by the Professor: paying attention to the un-exceptional complexity of the area, the aim of the frontal lectures is to provide a consistent line of historical interpretation of the patterns of change in Western Asia and North Africa.

2. Discussion in Seminars: students will present and debate in class the topics of the readings they studied at home before. The aim is to stimulate cooperation and discussion among students on bibliographical research, as well as to improve their capabilities in public speeches.

3. Lectures by guests-scholars: these will integrate with further different perspectives and competences the topics under scrutiny.

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS.

The final result is made out of two written exams, along the "Take Home" modality:

1. Participation in Class Discussions (33,3% of final grade), in particular during Classes of Section B: there, students will review at least 2 of the readings the followed by discussion with colleages and Professor.

2. Intermediate Exam (33,3% of final grade) - Take Home: One Open question (max 4 pages) concerning Section A and the related readings. Exam date: just after the end of the course before Christmas Holidays.

3. Final Exam (33,3% of final grade):

Elaboration of an Essay (max 10 pages) on topics of either Seminar 1 or 2: details on the topic to be agreed with the Professor in class.

Alternatively, the review of a monograph on topics of either Seminar 1 o 2.

Exam Date: one of the 6 exam dates (appelli) available during the regular Exam sessions (Winter; Summer)

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS.

The final result is made out of One written exam, along the "Take Home" modality:

Three Open Questions:

First and Second questions pertaining Section A (textbook and suggested readings)

The review of a monograph on topics of either Seminar 1 o 2, agreed with the Professor, and comparison with the readings of the related Seminar.

Exam Date: one of the 6 exam dates (appelli) available during the regular Exam sessions (Winter; Summer)

Criteria for evaluation:

1. Ability to elaborate synthesis of the topics
2. Ability to locate and connect local events and dynamics with international and global processes
3. Ability to provide in depth-analysis of case-studies
4. Proficiency in writing in academic English language

Procedural STEPS:

1. Before the Appello (Exam Date) Enroll to Alma Esami.

2. You will receive an invitation by Microsoft Teams to participate to the exam on the related date a few hours before.

3. On the exam date, students will access the webpage of EOL (Esami On Line), where the exam questions are located. The Professor will provide you and explain the Exam: text, questions and rules of delivery. Time for Q&A

4. Student Upload their answers in pdf files on the online platform EOL (esami-on-line) of Unibo, within 48 hours.

5. In order to control the originality of your work, every essay will be checked against any form of plagiarism by the softwares of the University of Bologna. The full bibliography (books and readings) of the course are included; Exam of previours years and major online databases are included.

6. Results will be published within the next 15 days by EOL. You will have 7 days to accept or refuse the result. Afterwards, results will be registered. Only and exclusively, those who refuse their results must write an email to the professor before 7 days.

7. ANY DELAY BEYOND THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE AS WELL AS ANY FORM OF PLAGIARISM WILL INVALIDATE THE FULL ESSAY AND WILL BE NOTIFIED TO AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE. PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME IN ITALIAN LAW AND WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY.

Teaching tools

The course will make use of ppt and audio-visuals whenever necessary.

Public collections of Primary sources (State and Int. Org. documents):

1.International Organizations

UN and UN Agencies Archives:

https://archives.un.org/content/explore-archives

https://digitallibrary.un.org

https://documents.un.org/prod/ods.nsf/home.xsp

World Bank Group:

http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/160371587056386053/69356-Open-Archives-Brochure-April-2020-update.pdf

https://oralhistory.worldbank.org

International Monetary Fund:

https://www.imf.org/en/About/Archives

2. National and Regional Sources:

European Union

https://www.eui.eu/Research/HistoricalArchivesOfEU

https://ec.europa.eu/historical_archives/index_en.htm

http://www.archivesportaleurope.net/home

Italy:

Foreign Policy and History

http://www.farnesina.ipzs.it/series/

Senato della Repubblica

https://patrimonio.archivio.senato.it

Partito socialista italiano

https://patrimonio.archivio.senato.it/inventario/fondazione-turati/partito-socialista-italiano-psi-direzione-nazionale

Fondazione Lelio Basso e Sezione internazionale

https://www.fondazionebasso.it/2015/archivio-storico/fondi-archivio/archivi-istituzionali/

Fondazione Gramsci - Partito Comunista italiano

https://www.fondazionegramsci.org/archivi/inventari-degli-archivi/

Istituto Luigi Sturzo - Archivo Storico e Democrazia Cristiana

http://old.sturzo.it

http://old.sturzo.it/archivio-andreotti/l-archivio

United States of America:

Foreign Relations of the United States of America:

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments

National Security Archives of the United States of America

https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/

United Kingdom's National Archives:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/]

Federal Republic of Germany:

https://www.ifz-muenchen.de/aktuelles/themen/akten-zur-auswaertigen-politik/

https://www.ifz-muenchen.de/aktuelles/themen/akten-zur-auswaertigen-politik/open-access/

German Democratic Republic:

https://www.ifz-muenchen.de/aktuelles/themen/akten-zur-auswaertigen-politik/zusatzdokumente-zur-edition-die-einheit/

France:

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/archives-diplomatiques/

3. Topics and other Sources:

Sources on the Cold War:

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/program/cold-war-international-history-project

Sources on the Contemporary International History:

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blogs/sources-and-methods

Sources and database on Armed Conflicts Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI):

https://www.sipri.org

Sources on International and Social History:

International Institute of Social History

https://iisg.amsterdam/en

Sources on Non AlignedMovement et al.

https://ris.org.in/en/documents-non-aligned-movement

https://www.nam-globe-exchange.org/online-resources

Sources on the Middle East and North Africa:

https://www.unescwa.org

https://hazine.info/

https://merip.org

https://www.jadaliyya.com

Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question: https://palquest.org

Office hours

See the website of Massimiliano Trentin