Module: Politics of the Middle East & North Africa

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Politics of the Middle East & North Africa
Module Code	POL1085 (ITS: LG574)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

The course introduces students to the complexity of the politics of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In particular, the course will explore three major themes. First, it will examine the modern social and political history of the Middle East and North Africa with a particular focus on state formation, the politics of political change and popular mass mobilizations. Secondly, following on from previous discussions, the course will examine the major political ideologies that have developed along the regional history and in connection with transnational intellectual networks. Thirdly, the course will deal with the international politics of the region with a specific focus on Israel and Palestine.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain political events and phenomena in the region
2. Understand the role and functions of authoritarian structures of governance
3. Understand political Islam and contrast different types of it
4. Apply key concepts and theories of political science to the Middle East and North Africa.
5. Analyse regional events in the context of theories of international politics
6. To exchange ideas and defend akward points of view.
7. Examine major concepts and puzzles that exist in Middle East and North Africa international politics

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	224	No Description
Total Workload: 248

Section Breakdown
CRN	20946	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	Iain McMenamin, Niamh Gaynor, Walt Kilroy

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	n/a	10%	Every Week
Essay	n/a	45%	Once per semester
Reflective journal	n/a	45%	Once per semester

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:

Durac, Vincent, and Francesco Cavatorta: 2015, Politics and Governance in the Middle East, Palgrave Macmillan,
Kraetschmar, Hendrik, and Paola Rivetti (eds), 201: 2018, Islamists and the Politics of the Arab Uprisings: Governance, Pluralisation and Contention, Edinburgh University Press,
Ellen Lust (ed.): 2010, The Middle East, CQ Press,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None