Students

POIR2780 – Middle-East Politics

2024 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jumana Bayeh
jumana.bayeh@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Karim Pourhamzavi
karim.pourhamzavi@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in POL or POIR or POIX units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The uprisings that gripped the Arab world in 2011, the ongoing violence in Syria, the mixed results of the revolution in Egypt and the emergence of ISIS in 2014 have refocused world attention on the Middle East and its relations with the West. This unit introduces students to the domestic politics of the Middle East, and to the intellectual and ideological currents shaping those politics. The first weeks are devoted to the contemporary history of the region from the late nineteenth century to the rise of post-colonial states in the region. Broad-ranging theoretical concepts necessary for an understanding of Middle Eastern political processes, and different ways of looking at those processes, are considered in the first part. The unit then examines the structure of government and the politics of the region, drawing on some of the ideas from the earlier part of the unit. Particular attention is paid to the region’s ongoing relations with the West and the “war against terrorism”; the emergence and future prospects of religious fundamentalism; and the rise of Arab nationalism and Zionism. The Arab-Israeli conflict, the 2003 Iraq War and the impact of globalisation are also covered.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Undertake independent learning and research throughout the semester.
  • ULO2: Outline the geography and contemporary history of the Middle East.
  • ULO3: Effectively communicate their understanding and analytical ability in both spoken and, particularly, polished written form.
  • ULO4: Use a wide range of written and digital resources related to Middle East politics to convey, in essays and discussions, convincing arguments and ideas about the region.
  • ULO5: Raise awareness of the importance of a critical approach to the study of the Middle East, by adopting macro (‘big picture’) perspectives discussed in the unit and integrating theory and empirical evidence.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Essay 60% No Friday 5 April 2024, 7pm
Exam 40% No Week 13

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Friday 5 April 2024, 7pm
Weighting: 60%

 

Write an essay of 2000 words. Choose one essay question provided by the Convenor. Students are expected to utilise the required readings in the unit and undertake independent research.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Undertake independent learning and research throughout the semester.
  • Outline the geography and contemporary history of the Middle East.
  • Effectively communicate their understanding and analytical ability in both spoken and, particularly, polished written form.
  • Use a wide range of written and digital resources related to Middle East politics to convey, in essays and discussions, convincing arguments and ideas about the region.
  • Raise awareness of the importance of a critical approach to the study of the Middle East, by adopting macro (‘big picture’) perspectives discussed in the unit and integrating theory and empirical evidence.

Exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%

 

The final exam will be delivered online. It will require students to demonstrate knowledge of the key concepts and debates examined in the unit. Responses to several tasks will total approximately 2,000 words.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Undertake independent learning and research throughout the semester.
  • Outline the geography and contemporary history of the Middle East.
  • Effectively communicate their understanding and analytical ability in both spoken and, particularly, polished written form.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Delivery: This unit has two 1 hour lectures per week that all students are expected to attend or listen to via echo. There is also one 1 hour tutorial per week that each student must also attend.

Resources: The study guide in iLearn contains a list of resources for you to consult. Other resources will be made available on iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2024.01 of the Handbook