Journeys across Cultures and Societies in the Middle East.

Catalog description

How do cultures and societies impact politics and economics across the Middle East? What explains the cooperation and conflict both within and between countries in the region? To what extent has history determined modern narratives and what is the current state of affairs? This course will bridge the historical narrative to explain modern societies in the Middle East with particular focus on religion, politics, and economics. We will study the region broadly and dedicate special interest to the countries of Egypt and Israel/Palestine. Students will make critical connections between their own daily lives and that of the cultures and practices they observe. This cohort-based contextual class will situate students in Middle East cultures and help navigate students in their process of adaptation. This course is only available to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program.