Syllabus
No.
Topic
Lecture/seminar
Taught by
Presentation topics 1.
Opening – historical overview, ME in the 20th century // Current questions, problems and challenges
L
Both 2.
Israel and the Arab World, The Middle East Peace Process
L
SV 3.
Modern geopolitical conflict for regional supremacy
L
SV 4.
Seminar: Sunna-Shia
S
BD 1) Competition in Yemen - Assmae, Violaine 2) Competition in Iraq - Berk 3) Iran, Saudi Arabia, and nuclear weapons - Binyu, Ziliang 5.
Demise of State in the ME in Intl Theory
L
BD 6.
The Role of Religion in the ME politics (Confession, Identity, and Ethnicity)
L
SV 7.
Seminar: role of religion
S
BD 1) Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood after the Arab Spring - Estelle, Matěj 2) Ennahda movement after the Arab Spring - Maria Fernanda, Carlos 3) Role of Islam in contemporary Turkey - Sonia 8.
Social conflicts and other sources of tension
L
SV 9.
Seminar: Social Tension
S
BD 1) Demography and social issues in Iran - Réka 2) Social issues in oil/non-oil producing countries - Pierre, Markéta, Barbora 3) Khaat in Yemen - Merle, Luca 10.
Specifics of Northern Africa
L
BD 11.
Seminar: North Africa after the Arab Spring
S
BD 1) Tuareg movement and post-Arab Spring Northern Africa - Wynona 2) Foreign intervention and proxy groups in Libya - Petr, Marco 3) Importance of Nile river disputes for Egypt - Adam 12.
Guest
L
Both
Annotation
The course is focused on presenting the current challenges of the Middle East region. It will explain various factors that formed its political character, will present current geopolitical situation and will provide understanding on driving forces behind the major defining characteristics of the region.