Time Schedule:
Arda Ibikoglu
POL S 331
Seattle Campus
Breakdown of traditional society and the problems of building modern political systems.
Class description
This course is about political institutions in the Middle East since the end of the 19th century. Examining the historical experiences of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran, we will try to get a better understanding of the persistence of monarchies and the establishment of republics in this region. One of our goals is to be able to analytically compare the historical processes that led to the current regimes in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. However, we also want to learn and appreciate the diverse social and cultural aspects of these countries. We will show a conscious effort to avoid relying on simple dichotomous explanatory frameworks such as oil exports leading to authoritarianism or Islam leading to underdevelopment. In particular, we will pay attention to the role of colonialism and imperialism, Shi’i – Sunni divide, power of tribes, access to exogenous resources besides oil, and sources of legitimacy in each of our cases to reach better comparisons.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Quizzes 10%, Midterm 40%, Final 50%
