Module: Contemporary Politics of the Middle East & North Africa

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Contemporary Politics of the Middle East & North Africa
Module Code	LG320 (ITS) / POL1037 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
Module Co-ordinator	Paola Rivetti
Module Teachers	Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Erika Biagini, Iain McMenamin
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

This module is a comparative politics course and introduces students to the field of Middle Eastern and North African politics. We will begin the course with an overview of the most relevant political developments in the region over the course of the last century and examine their impact on the current political, social and economic arrangements. The core of the course deals with the role that Islam plays in the political sphere and, in particular its relation with democratization, authoritarianism and individual rights. Foreign relations of the countries in the region and the international politics of MENA state are also examined.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain political events and phenomena in a much misunderstood region of the world
2. Understand the role and functions of authoritarian structures of governance
3. Apply key concepts and theories of political science to the Middle East and North Africa.
4. Analyse regional events in the context of theories of international politics.
5. Examine major concepts and puzzles that exist in Middle East and North Africa politics

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Lecture	6	No Description
Independent Study	95	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total
Course Work Breakdown
Essay	Final essay	60%
Assignment	Reaction paper	40%

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

None