IR4601 Political Order and Violence in the Middle East

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

Tuesday 12 noon - 1pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr H Lai

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Hsinyen Lai

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module examines the causes and consequences of political order and violence in the Middle East. What constitutes a political order? Why and how are political orders established? What role does violence play in constituting political orders? Why and how does violence ensue with the breakdown of political orders? Drawing on IR, Sociological, and State-formation theories, we will examine different episodes of order and violence in contemporary Middle East politics: from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the latest Arab Uprisings, looking at colonial orders, regime-society violence, violent resistance against occupation, and civil wars.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultative hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Acquire a strong understanding of the concepts and theories of political order and violence;
  • Acquire familiarity with various types of political order and violence in the Middle East;
  • Develop a strong understanding of Middle East politics with special focus on various political regimes and episodes of political violence;
  • Develop a strong ability to analyse the causes and consequences of violence in a comparative manner.
  • Articulate this understanding in oral and written form, through presentations and class discussion as well as coursework essays and examination;
  • Develop their research and analytical skills.