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IR315     
The Middle East and International Relations Theory

This information is for the 2019/20 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Katerina Dalacoura CBG.9.14

Availability

This course is available on the BSc in International Relations, BSc in International Relations and Chinese, BSc in International Relations and History and BSc in Politics and International Relations. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed International Political Theory (IR200).

or an equivalent course.

Course content

The course applies the theories and conceptual tools of the discipline of International Relations to the study of the Middle East region. It uses the empirical material offered by the history, politics, political economy and international politics of the region to explore these concepts and theories. More specifically, it concentrates on the areas of foreign policy analysis, international political economy, gender, the study of international norms and conflict and peace studies. It explores the applicability of various International Relations theories (for example, realism and neo-realism; neo-liberalism; constructivism; English School; neo-Marxism and structuralism; and post-colonialism) to the study of the region.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes in the LT.

Formative coursework

Three essays of 1,500 words each.

Indicative reading

  • Raymond Hinnebusch and Anoushiravan Ehteshami (eds.), The Foreign Policies of Middle Eastern States (Lynne Rienner, 2014);
  • Raymond Hinnebusch, The International Politics of the Middle East (Manchester University Press, 2003);
  • Fred Halliday, The Middle East in International Relations: Power, Politics, and Ideology (CUP, 2005);
  • Shibley Telhami and Michael Barnett, Identity and Foreign Policy in the Middle East (Cornell University Press, 2002);
  • Michael Barnett, Dialogues in Arab Politics (Columbia University Press,1998);
  • Baghat Korany and Ali Dessouki, The Foreign Policies of Arab States (The American University of Cairo Press, 2008).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the summer exam period.

Student performance results

(2016/17 - 2018/19 combined)

Classification % of students
First 17.8
2:1 56.2
2:2 24.7
Third 1.4
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: International Relations

Total students 2018/19: 28

Average class size 2018/19: 14

Capped 2018/19: No

Value: One Unit