C Politics of the Middle East

Catalog description

Term hours: 54 lecture. This course is an introduction to the political, social, economic and ideological foundations of the Middle East in general and major states in the region in particular. Emphasis is placed on the political and economic developments in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Topics covered include: introduction to the land, peoples, cultures, and religions; colonialism and the emergence of modern states following World War I; Western influence and Islamic revivalism; regional conflicts (Arab-Israeli, Iran-Iraq, Gulf Wars); the politics and economics of oil; U.S. based ethnic interest groups and their influence on U.S. foreign policy; patrimonialism and militarism; liberalization and democratization. (UC/CSU, AA GE, CalGETC)