Contemporary Middle East & Central Asia

Subject ISLM90007 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

January, Parkville - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Intensive

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: 24 hours
Total Time Commitment:

Estimated total time commitment (including non-contact time): 120 hours

Prerequisites:

Admission into the fourth-year honours program or Postgraduate programs in the Arts Faculty. Admission into the Master of Islamic Studies.

Corequisites:

None.

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None.

Non Allowed Subjects:

None.

Core Participation Requirements:

None.

Contact

A/Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh
shahrama@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	This subject focuses on the contemporary political landscape of the Middle East and Central Asia. It explores the interplay of international relations and domestic politics, especially in the wake of the war on terror. It traces the challenge of Islamism with reference to the Arab-Israeli conflict and implications of Iran’s growing assertiveness in the Persian Gulf and Central Asia. Of particular interest is popular perceptions of the United States in the region, as well as the disconnect between the people and the political elite.
Objectives:	Students who successfully complete this subject should... have a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the political systems in the Middle East and Central Asia; have a solid appreciation of the role of great powers in the region; have a solid grasp of the geo-political issues facing the newly established states of Central Asia; have an understanding of the interconnectedness of patterns of conflict in the Middle East and Central Asia; have an understanding of Islamic political and social mechanisms in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Assessment:	A 1000 word seminar paper (due during the semester) 20% and a 4000 word take-home exam paper (due 2 March) 80%.
Prescribed Texts:	Kylie Baxter and Shahram Akbarzadeh, US Foreign Policy in the Middle East. London: Routledge, 2008 Shahram Akbarzadeh, Uzbekistan and the United States: Authoritarianism, Islamism and Washington's Security Agenda . London: Zed books, 2005
Recommended Texts:	Shahram Akbarzadeh and Benjamin MacQueen: Islam and Human Rights (London: Routledge, 2008) Olivier Roy, The Failure of Political Islam (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1994).
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	Students who successfully complete this subject should Develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the political systems in the Middle East and Central Asia Gain a solid appreciation of the role of great powers in the region Demonstrate a solid grasp of the geo-political issues facing the newly established states of Central Asia Improve oral skills by participating in seminars; Develop improved writing skills by producing a well-documented take-home exam paper.
Notes:	None.
Related Course(s):	Master of International Relations Master of Islamic Studies Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Studies
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	200 point program - full time over 18 months 200 point program - full time over 24 months Arabic Islamic Studies Islamic Studies

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