INA826 Comparative Politics of the Middle East

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This seminar explores key political, ideological, and socioeconomic dynamics in the Middle East. It introduces students to major challenges facing Middle Eastern states and societies, while also surveying important debates in Middle East studies. Topics include Orientalism, Arab nationalism, state formation legacies, ethnic and sectarian identities, rentier states, monarchical regimes, gender politics, political economic restructuring, Islamist politics, and the impact of the 2011 Arab uprisings on authoritarianism and democracy in the region.

Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2023 and will not be taught in this academic year 2025–2026.