DESCRIPTION OF COURSE UNIT

1. Course unit title Near Eastern Studies 2. Name of lecturer(s) Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladislav Sotirovi (vsotirovic@mruni.eu) a. o: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladislav Sotirovi 3. Cycle of course unit II cycle 4. Mode of delivery Face-to-face 5. Study requirements Prerequisites Not applicable 6. Recommended optional programme components Not applicable 7. Number of ECTS credits allocated 6 8. Purpose of the course unit: programme competences to be developed The purpose/aim of the course is to give to the students a knowledge about the characteristics of political, economic, social and cultural developments of the countries from the region of the Middle East Learning outcomes of the programme 3.2. Is able to present ideas to the wide audience as well as work individually and within target groups in volatile situations creatively Learning outcomes of the course unit To be able to understand characteristics of the region of the Middle East. To be able to analyze foreign literature on regional political system development and economic and social characteristics Teaching and learning methods Problem learning Assessment methods Control work Student's workload 162 Contact work hours and planned learning activities 34 Independent work hours 128 Co-requisites Not applicable Internship Not applicable Year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered 2 semester Language of instruction English, Lithuanian Level of course unit Not applicable Type of course unit Optional Departament(s) Institute of Political Sciences Code SL213M070202

4.1. Is familiar with and able to critically assess possibilities of political, economic, social and cultural relations between subjects representing different civilizations

To be able to analyze historical, geographic and cultural characteristics of the Middle East region. To be able to analyze regional security problems and

Case studies

Written exam

and to be open to the cultural diversity 6.2. Is able to provide recommendations and proposals on the issues of international politics and economics based on the analysis of political, social, economic and cultural processes in Asian countries 7.1. On the basis of research and practice is able to influence shaping the politics of foreign and international economy on the national and European levels by proposing rational inquiries and inspections tackling economic and political problems in Asia, Europe, and Lithuania 9.

they ways to be settled

To be able to do case study and political problem analyze

Learning and organization of the work by electronic means (moodle)

Group or individual presentation

To be able to criticize an opponents view within a framework of tolerance and competence

Co-operative learning method

Group or individual presentation

Course contens Contact work hours and planned learning activities Labaratory work
All contact work hours

Independent work hours and tasks

Independent work hours

Consultations

Topics

Assessment

Internship

Seminars

Training exercises

Lectures

Tasks

1. Introductory lecture: Characteristics of the Middle East region Geographic, political, social, religious and economic characteristics of the Middle East region 2. Why so many conflicts in the Middle East? Political, economic, cultural and historical reasons for the interethnic and interstate conflicts in the region of the Middle East. Historical development of the conflicts. The future of the regional conflicts

14

Reading scientific literature

14

Reading scientific literature

3. Models of democratization and the Middle East Different models of democratization of political life in the countries of the Middle East. The role of the civil society in the process of democratization. Challenges of adaptation of the western liberal political democracy in the Middle East 4. Israeli-Palestinian conflict Religious, state and international relations context of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

14

Reading scientific literature

14

Reading scientific literature Watching video documentary material

5. Meditteranean Sea region Political, economic, social and religious characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea region. Relations of the Meditteranean Sea region with the European Union and the Middle East. Problems and perspectives of the Mediterranean Sea region 6. The "Arab Spring": Reform or stalemate? The Arab Spring revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa: characteristics,task and reality. The Middle East countries not experienced the Arab Spring revolution (Saudi Arabia). 7. Turkey: Between Europe and Asia The processes of modernization and secularization in Turkey during the first half of the 20th century. Geo-politic importance of Turkey during the time of the Cold War and its NATOs membership. Political, economic and cultural interests of Turkey: creation of its own sphere of interest in the South-East Europe

14

Reading scientific literature Watching video documentary material

14

Reading scientific literature

14

Reading scientific literature

8. The Cyprus question and Turkish-Greek relations Political conflict between Turkey and Greece upon the Cyprus case. The OUN, NATO and EC positions concerning the Cyprus case and their proposals for solving the conflict. Division of Cyprus as a model of solving inter-ethnic conflicts for other multi-ethnic states (ex. Bosnia and Herzegovina according to the Dayton Agreement) 9. Summing-up: The Middle East regional problems and future challenges

14

Reading scientific literature Watching video documentary material

16

Reading scientific literature

Overall 18 10. Assesment strategy Examination Task performance Active participation in seminars 11. Weighting percentage 40% 40% 20%

16

34

128

Period or date of assessment Session period Semester period Semester period

Assessment criteria Written exam Realization of the seminar work tasks Seminar participation and activity

Required reading Nonneman G., International Relations of the Middle East, Sage publ., 2013. Richards A. Waterburz J., A Political Economz of the Middle East, London: Basic Books, 2013. Hertog S., Luciani G., Valeri M., Business Politics in the Middle East, London: C. Hurst & Co., 2013. Halliday F., The Middle East in International Relations. Power, Politics and Ideology, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Yildiz K., Muller M. The European Union and Turkish Acccession: Human Rights and the Kurds. London, Ann Arbor (Mich.): Pluto Press, 2008. Recommended reading Gallagher T. The Balkans in the New Millennium. In the Shadow of War and Peace. London, New York: Routledge, 2007. Sorli E. M., Gleditsch P. N., Strand H., Why is there so much conflict in the Middle East, Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2005, 49, pp. 141-165. Mohapatraka K. A., Democratization in the Arab world: Relevance of the Turkish model, International Studies, 2008, 45, pp. 271-294. Vitkus G. Europos Sjungos usienio politika: trumpas vadovas. Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 2008. Hirst D., The Gun and The Olive Branch. The Roots of Violence in The Middle East, London: CPI Anthony Rowe, 2003. Markovich G. S. Weaver B. E., Pavlovic V. (eds.). Challenges to New Democracies in the Balkans. Belgrade: Cigoja Press, 2004. European Union and its New Neighborhood: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities. Vilnius: Mykolas Romeris University Press, 2006. Journal of Asian and African Studies, http://jas.sagepub.com Sotirovi B. V., Emigration, Refugees and Ethnic Cleansing: The Death of Yugoslavia, 1991?1999, Saarbrcken:

LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2013.