| Middle East and Democracy | Codi: M7.010 : 4 |
In contrast, several Arab countries that initiated political reforms in the 70s or the 90s entered a de-liberalisation phase, characterised by increasing repression of all forms of opposition.
Until 2011, no Arab country had achieved a democratic transition. The wave of popular protest and subsequent changes initiated in 2011, commonly referred as Arab Spring or Arab Awakening has shaken the terms of the debate on democracy in the Middle East and some authors argue that the region is entering a new paradigm.
Several dictators have fallen; other countries have introduced political reforms and others have reinforced their traditional strategies of social control: a combination of subsidies and repression. External actors are also re-evaluating their policies towards this region and are trying to draw lessons from their past actions (or lack of action). In this critical juncture it is particularly relevant to analyse the domestic and international factors that have a substantial impact on the evolution of Middle Eastern politics.
The goal of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to get a closer look to the political dynamics of the region, to get to know the main political actors and to be introduced to theoretical debates on democracy in the Middle East.
This is an optional course. It aims to apply to a specific geographic area concepts and debates with which students are already familiarised with. It is also one of the few courses tought in English. Thus, it also aism at helping student to get used to English as a working language
The course assumes that students are already familiar with basic concepts of political science (e.g authoritarianism, democratisation, rentier state) and combines them with basic notions of International Relations and Foreign Policy analysis. This will also help students to get familiar with the Middle East and North Africa region. No initial knowledge on the region is supposed to students. Yet, no previous knowledge is supposed on this particular region. Having said that, students are highly recommended to refresh basic notions on the geography and the history of this region.
This course is designed to be a useful introduction to politics in the Middle East for researchers, political analysists an political-risk consultants
Specific skills:
Interpret unfolding political events in the MENA region, identifying driving forces, key actors and potential impact.
Apply political science and international relations concepts and analytical frameworks to the MENA region
Cross-cutting skills:
Use English as a working and communication language
Work with different kind of forces
Combine academic research and policy-relevant analysis
Goals
The goal of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to get a closer look to the political dynamics of the region, to get to know the main political actors and to be introduced to theoretical debates on democracy in the Middle East. Students will have access to relevant information and a selection of reading materials that should allow them to answer questions such as:
Does democracy face more obstacles in the Middle East than in other regions?
Can Islamist groups become democratising forces or, at least, integrate themselves (and be integrated by the rest) in a democratic system?
Is the Arab-Israeli conflict hindering democratisation in the Middle East?
Have external actors contributed to democratisation in this region or, on the contrary, have they legitimised authoritarian rulers?
1. Is there an Arab or Muslim exceptionality?
2. The rentier state: definition and effects on democracy, authoritarianism and state-building
3. Liberalised autocracies and the applicability of the transition model to the contemporary Middle East
Module 2 Political Islam and protest movements
1. Political Islam: a common origin, distinct political strategies
2. Protest movements
Module 3 The Arab-Israeli conflict
1. The Arab-Israeli conflict
2. The Middle East Peace Process and other peace initiatives
3. Nationalism in the Middle East: Zionism, Arab nationalism and Palestinian movements
4. Israel’s political system
Module 4 External actors and democracy in the Middle East
1. European policies towards the Middle East
2. The democratisation agenda in the US Middle Eastern policy
3. The Turkish model and Turkey’s new Middle Eastern policy
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | XML |
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | DAISY |
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | EPUB 2.0 |
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | MOBIPOCKET |
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | KARAOKE |
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | HTML5 |
| Authoritarianism in Arab countries | |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | XML |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | DAISY |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | EPUB 2.0 |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | MOBIPOCKET |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | KARAOKE |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | HTML5 |
| External actors and democracy in the Middle East | |
| Political Islam and protest movements | XML |
| Political Islam and protest movements | DAISY |
| Political Islam and protest movements | EPUB 2.0 |
| Political Islam and protest movements | MOBIPOCKET |
| Political Islam and protest movements | KARAOKE |
| Political Islam and protest movements | HTML5 |
| Political Islam and protest movements |
La Normativa acadèmica de la UOC disposa que el procés d'avaluació es fonamenta en el treball personal de l'estudiant i pressuposa l'autenticitat de l'autoria i l'originalitat dels exercicis fets.
La manca d'originalitat en l'autoria o el mal ús de les condicions en què es fa l'avaluació de l'assignatura és una infracció que pot tenir conseqüències acadèmiques greus.
L'estudiant serà qualificat amb un suspens (D/0) si es detecta manca d'originalitat en l'autoria d'alguna activitat avaluable (pràctica, prova d'avaluació contínua (PAC) o final (PAF), o la que es defineixi al pla docent), sigui perquè ha utilitzat material o dispositius no autoritzats, sigui perquè ha copiat textualment d'internet, o ha copiat d'apunts, de materials, de manuals o d'articles (sense la citació corresponent), d'altres estudiants, o per qualsevol altra conducta irregular.
La qualificació de suspens (D/0) en les qualificacions finals d'avaluació contínua pot comportar l'obligació de fer l'examen presencial per a superar l'assignatura (si hi ha examen i si superar-lo és suficient per a superar l'assignatura segons indiqui el pla docent).
Quan aquesta mala conducta es produeixi durant la realització de les proves d'avaluació finals presencials, l'estudiant pot ser expulsat de l'aula, i l'examinador farà constar tots els elements i la informació relatius al cas.
D'altra banda, aquesta conducta pot donar lloc a la incoació d'un procediment disciplinari i l'aplicació, si escau, de la sanció que correspongui.
La UOC habilitarà els mecanismes que consideri oportuns per a vetllar per la qualitat de les seves titulacions i garantir l'excel·lència i la qualitat del seu model educatiu.
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Pots superar l'assignatura per mitjà de dues vies:
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