POL 177 — Demystifying the Middle East
Quarter: Winter
Instructor(s): Marwan D. Hanania
Date(s): Feb 5—Mar 5
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Thursdays
Class Meeting Time: 6:00—7:50 pm (PT)
Tuition: $370
Refund Deadline: Feb 7
Unit(s): 1
Status: Open
Quarter: Winter
Day: Thursdays
Duration: 5 weeks
Time: 6:00—7:50 pm (PT)
Date(s): Feb 5—Mar 5
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $370
Refund Deadline: Feb 7
Instructor(s): Marwan D. Hanania
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
Why does the Middle East remain at the center of global headlines more than a century after the fall of the Ottoman Empire? This course examines the major themes and events that have shaped modern Middle Eastern history, focusing on developments since World War I. We will begin with background on the region’s evolution during the classical Islamic and Ottoman eras before examining conflicting wartime agreements between Britain and various parties regarding Ottoman-held territories in the region. Next, we will analyze the creation of new colonial mandates and states, along with significant developments during the European colonial era and the years of political independence. Topics include the establishment of Israel and the Palestinian refugee crisis (1948), the rise and decline of Pan-Arab nationalism (1952–70), oil, and new forms of political Islam. We will also review the Arab Spring and recent conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. In addition, we will explore US involvement in the region, attempts at Arab-Israeli normalization, and implications for US foreign policy.
MARWAN D. HANANIA
Historian
Marwan D. Hanania has taught at a number of institutions, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Santa Clara University, where he is currently a full-time lecturer. His research interests and areas of focus include the modern Middle East, urban history, refugees and migration, the history of Islam and the late Ottoman period. He received a PhD in history from Stanford. Textbooks for this course:
(Required) James L. Gelvin, The New Middle East: What Everyone Needs to Know, Second Edition, 2nd Edition (ISBN 978-0197622094)
(Required) William L. Cleveland and Martin Bunton, A History of the Modern Middle East, 7th Edition (ISBN 978-0367516468)
(Required) William L. Cleveland and Martin Bunton, A History of the Modern Middle East, 7th Edition (ISBN 978-0367516468)