Module: Contemporary Politics of the Middle East & North Africa

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Contemporary Politics of the Middle East & North Africa
Module Code	POL1037 (ITS: LG320)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

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

Section Breakdown
CRN	20922	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Paola Rivetti	Module Teacher	Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Erika Biagini, Iain McMenamin

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Final essay	60%	Week 1
Assignment	Reaction paper	40%	Week 1

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None