Politics of the
Political Science Dr. Neda A. Zawahri
Spring 2008
Office Hours: M & W
Also available by appointment
Tel: 216-687-4544
I. Course Overview:
This course
is designed to introduce students to Middle Eastern Politics. We will examine important historical
junctures that have contributed to current political issues confronting the
region. These include the Arab-Israeli
conflict, Arab Nationalism, the role of religion in politics,
democratization/political liberalization, and the consequence of oil on
economic development. We will also
examine the domestic politics of several countries, including:
II. Course
Requirements:
1. Class attendance and participation:
It is essential that you attend every class and participate. Attendance accounts for 10 percent of your grade.
2. Writing Assignment:
There is one term paper (10 to 12
pages) for this course. Students are to
study in-depth one issue confronting the
3. Mid-Term and Final Exams:
Two exams will be given in this
course, a mid-term and final. All
students must take the exam at the scheduled time. The exams consist of short ids and long
essays.
III. Grades:
Student performance is assessed on the following basis:
Mid-term………………………………………….30%
Term Paper………...……………………………...30%
Final………………………………………………30%
Attendance ………….……………………………10%
Grading Scale
95-100 A 77-79 C+
90-94 A- 73-76 C
87-89 B+
70-72 C-
83-86 B 69-60 D
80-82 B- Below 60 F
William L. Cleveland, A History of the Modern
Electronic Course
Reserve available online.
V. Rules and Regulations:
1) All wireless devices (cell phones and computers) must to be turned off during class.
2) No guests (this includes children) are allowed to attend class without prior permission from the professor. No guests will be allowed to attend more than one class. Guests that are disrupting class will be asked to leave along with their host.
3) Examination Procedure: Once an examination has started the student MAY NOT leave the examination room until the examination is completed. If a student leaves the room, the examination, for that student, is over. Also, no talking until everyone has completed and turned in the exam.
4) Early Examinations: No early examinations will be given.
5) Make up exams: Available only under special circumstances and student must contact professor within 48 hours of the exam date to arrange a make up exam.
6) Late Assignments: Assignments turned in after their due date will be reduced one grade per late course day. Emailed assignments will not be accepted.
7) Excuses: If there is a death in the family, a major illness, or a religious holiday, which necessitates an extension for your assignment, it must be documented. The proper documentation includes a dated obituary, a letter from your doctor, and/or a letter from your religious leader (I will call the doctor to confirm the information and this doctor cannot be your parent/relative).
8) Academic Misconduct: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If caught, the Policy on Academic Misconduct (3.2.1) of the University’s Code of Student Conduct will be followed. This course will have an account with a plagiarism service provider (www.turnitin.com), which is capable of identifying the originality of any assignment.
9) During this course we will discuss controversial and emotional issues. This requires laying down ground rules for this course: students do not speak unless called upon; only one person can speak at any given moment; students will respect one another in this course—meaning there will be no talking back to your classmates; and we will respect each other’s opinion.
January 14 Class Introduction and Introduction to the
January 16 The
January 21 No class, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 23 The
January 28 The Young Turks
January 30
February 4
February 6 Challenges confronting
February 11 Challenges confronting
February 13 & 20 Islam
Roy
Andersen et al., Politics and Change in
the
February 18 No Class
Presidents’ Day
February 20
February 25
February 27 & March 3 The Iranian Revolution
March 5 Challenges Confronting
Azadeh Kian-Thiebaut, “Political
and Social Transformations in Post-Islamist
March 10 to 14 Spring
Break No Classes
March 17 Challenges Confronting
Olivier Roy, “Tensions in
March 19 MidTerm
March 24 The
March 26 & 31
Don Peretz, The Middle East Today, chapter 12, “The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”
April 2 & 7
Beverley Milton-Edwards and Peter
Hinchcliffe, “Abdullah’s
Lamis Andoni, “King Abdallah: In
His Father’s Footsteps?” Journal of
April 9, 14, 16 & 21
Cleveland Chapter fifteen
Papers Due April 23rd Before Class begins
April 23 & 28
Don Peretz, The Middle East Today, Chapter 15,
Amatzia
Baram, “The Future of Ba’thist
Challenges, and Prospects,” in
Robert R. Satloff, ed., The Politics of
Change in the
April 30 Review for the Final
May 7 Final Exam