COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

A Course Title
Comparative Politics of the Middle East

& Number Pol 495

B Prerequisite(s) POL 300 or POL 304 or POL 305 or POL 307

C Number of credits 3-0-3

D Faculty Name Dr. Line Khatib

E Term/ Year Fall 2016

F Sections

CRN Course Days Time Location

11523 Pol 495UTR 2:00-2:50 Physics 217

G Instructor
Information
Instructor Office Telephone Email

Line Khatib 230 4420 lkhatib@aus.edu

Office Hours: Sunday and Tuesday 12-2

H Course
Examines political environments in the Middle East and focuses on nation-states as
Description from units of analysis. Analyzes political interests, structures and institutions. Explores the
Catalog characteristics of political systems such as identity politics, political development and
political economy. Focuses on a comparative approach to the study of the Middle East.

I Course Learning Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Outcomes
Explain the complex and diverse political environment of the Middle East
(Midterm)
Explain the different interests and identities of specific countries in the region using
comparative analysis (Paper)
Categorize the different key institutions and structures of nation-states in the region
(Presentations)
Assess and compare the political development of nation-states
(Midterm/Presentation)
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J Textbook and
other Instructional
Required reading:
Material and
Resources Ellen Lust (ed.), The Middle East, 13th edition, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi,
Washington D.C. and Singapore: Sage Publications, Inc., 2014. Hereinafter The
Middle East. (you will need to get this book at the bookstore)

K Teaching and
This independent study will rely upon class presentations and discussions, class
Learning lectures, and online material.
Methodologies

L Grading Scale,
Grading Grading Scale
Distribution, and
94 100 4.0 A 77 79.9 2.3 C+
Due Dates
90 93.9 3.7 A- 73 76.9 2.0 C
87 89.9 3.3 B+ 70 72.9 1.7 C-
83 86.9 3.0 B 60 69.9 1.0 D
80 82.9 2.7 B- Less Than 60 0 F

Grading Criteria

1. Analytical rigor (logic, clarity of argument, consideration of counter-argument)

2. Originality/creativity

3. Essay or writing mechanics (structure of essay clear and logical, clear thesis)

4. Sentence mechanics (quality of prose, grammar, spelling)

5. Scholarship (accurate representation of authors cited, quality of research if a

research paper)

6. Miscellaneous (proper citation of sources, meets purposes of assignments, etc)

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M Explanation of
.
Assessments Themes of Interest This requirement asks you to explain which themes you are
particularly interested in examining and why.

Research proposal This requirement asks you to develop a clear and informed thesis
statement, a tentative outline and a list of 10 preliminary sources that will guide your
research. Your grade will depend on the novelty and coherence of your topic, and the
pertinence of your sources.

Midterm This requirement will ask you specific essay questions related to the
readings and class notes. It will test you on your ability to explain and synthesize the
readings and the material presented and discussed in class.

PresentationThis requirement asks you to present twice during the term: one
presentation will address one of the readings that are assigned during the term. This
presentation will focus on the institutional developments of the different countries as
well as the identity and political culture of the country presented. Students will have to
look at the constitutional framework of the country presented as well as its interests and
identity/sub-identities, and recent changes in its political development. Each reading
has a clear thesis that the presenter should make clear at the outset. A presentation
that does not clearly and accurately present the overall thesis of the author is
missing an important part of the exercise.

Discussion LeaderThis requirement asks you to come up with 2 questions that the
reading helps raise. These questions should demonstrate a very careful reading and
understanding of the material and should ideally raise an interesting discussion in class,
meaning that the answers to the question should promote thinking about an aspect of
the reading, or critique of an aspect of the reading. They should not be answerable by a
simple Yes or No and they should always address directly the reading under
discussion.

Research Paper One research paper should be 3,000 words in length. It will address a
topic of your choice related to the themes we cover in this class. This essay will use the
comparative approach, and will compare 2 institutions or aspects of your choice. It will
involve significant research on your part. It will also ask you to address a specific
question, formulate a thesis statement and to clearly express an educated opinion on a
particular issue. It will also test your understanding and use of the readings and the
sources cited, as well as your ability to critically synthesize the academic material
covered and to apply its concepts to specific questions.
Your paper should include a literature review under a subheading clearly titled
Literature Review. In your Literature review you should do the following:

- Cluster sources into 2 or 3 themes that address the main questions of your paper;

- Summarize the main arguments of the sources and say why and how they help you
answer your questions; in other words, Explain the rationale for your selection of
sources

- Comment on patterns of similarity and dissimilarity between sources and say how
they lead you to your thesis;

All essays must include a signed copy of the universitys plagiarism statement, as
 COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

N Student Academic
Integrity Code
Students MUST read the Student Academic Integrity Code outlined in the AUS Catalog
Statement (p. 17 of 2015-16 catalog) and agree to abide by the standards for academic conduct,
students rights and responsibilities and procedures for handling allegations of academic
[Or perhaps dishonesty.
replace this with
any of your own The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to promoting the highest standards of
course policies] academic integrity.

Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to:

Plagiarism
Inappropriate collaboration
Inappropriate proxy
Dishonesty in examinations or submitted work
Work completed for one course being submitted for another
Deliberate falsification of data
Interference with other students work
Copyright violations
Complicity in academic dishonesty

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another persons work as your own. Plagiarism can
take many forms. The following is a non-exclusive list of examples that constitute the
academic offense of plagiarism:
copying another students paper or any other written source
submitting a paper written for you by someone else, a paid service or a website
downloading a paper from the Internet and presenting it as your own work
using a sentence or even part of a sentence from any outside source without
putting quotation marks around it and citing the source
using ideas, facts, and opinions from another source without citing the source

Plagiarism is a serious form of academic dishonesty and is not tolerated at this

university.
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CLASS SCHEDULE

Note: Please check ilearn or your AUS email account frequently for class related announcements and
information. Tests and other graded assignments due dates are set. No addendum, make-up exams, or extra
assignments to improve grades will be given.

# Dates Topic Readings NOTES

Introduction to the Comparative

1 Week 1 Approach

Valentine M. Moghadam and Tabitha

Decker, Social Change in the Middle
East, in Ellen Lust, ed., The Middle
2 Week 2 Social Change in the Middle East
East, 13th edition, Los Angeles, London,
New Delhi, Washington D.C. and
Singapore: Sage Publications, Inc.,
2014. Hereinafter The Middle East.

Ellen Lust, Institutions and 1) States and Regime

3 Week 3
Institutions and Governance Types
Governance, pp. 107-160 2) Key Institutions

Robert Lee and Lihi Ben Shitrit,

Society and Politics Religion, Society and Politics in the
Middle East, pp. 209-245
4 Week 4
Amaney Jamal and Lina Khatib,
Public Participation Actors, Public Opinion, and
Participation, in the Middle East, pp.
246-286

Francesco Cavatorta, International

5 Week 5 Politics of the ME, in The Middle
International Politics of the region
East, pp. 396-428

Tarek Masoud, Egypt, in The Middle

East, pp. 448-477

Egypt
- Raymond A. Hinnebusch, Syria, in
6 Week 6
The Middle East, pp. 764-788

Syria Recommended:

- Hinnebusch, Syria: Revolution from

Above (New York and London:
Routledge, 2001), pp. 15-46
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- Eric Davis, Iraq, in the Middle East,

pp. 507-536

Recommended:

Iraq - Nadje al-Ali and Nicola Pratt, Iraqs

Triple Challenge: State, Nation and
Democracy, Burnell, Randall and
Rakner, Politics in the Developing
World, 3rd edition (Oxford University
Press, 2011)
7 Week 7
- Lahouari Addi, Algeria, in The
Algeria Middle East, pp. 429-447

Recommended:

- Bahgat Korany and Saad Amrani,

Explosive Civil Society and
Democratization from below, in
Korany, Brynen and Noble, Political
Liberalization and Democratization in
the Arab World, Comparative
Experiences (London and Boulder,
Colorado, Lynne Rienner, 1998), pp.11-
38

Saudi Arabia Pascal Menoret, Saudi Arabia, in The

Middle East, pp. 746-763
8 Week 8
Amanda Kadlec, Libya, in The
Libya Middle East, pp. 631-659

-Sarah Phillips, Yemen, in The

Yemen Middle East, pp. 866-886

Recommended:

Sheila Carapico, Pluralism,

Polarization and Popular Politics in
Yemen, in Korany, Brynen and Noble,
9 Week 9 Political Liberalization and
Democratization in the Arab World,
Comparative Experiences (London
and Boulder, Colorado, Lynne
Rienner, 1998), pp. 241-266

Benoit Challand, Palestinian

Palestine Authority, in the Middle East, pp.
688-716
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Jordan Laurie A. Brand, Jordan, in The

Middle East, pp. 564-589

Recommended:

- Rex Brynen, The Politics of

Monarchical Liberalism, in Korany,
Brynen and Noble, Political
Liberalization and Democratization in
10 Week 10
the Arab World, Comparative
Experiences (London and Boulder,
Colorado, Lynne Rienner, 1998), pp.
71-100

Tunisia - Jeffrey A. Coupe and Hamadi

Redissi, Tunisia, in the Middle East,
pp. 789-829

- Paul Salem, Lebanon, in The

11 Week 11 Lebanon
Middle East, pp. 609-630 Midterm: Tuesday 15 Nov

Iran
- Mehrzad Bouroujerdi, Iran, in The
Middle East, pp. 478-506

Recommended:
- Ali Fethollah Nejad, Irans Civil
Society Grappling with a Triangular
12 Week 12 Dynamic, in K. Fisher and R. Stewart,
eds., Transitional Justice and the Arab
Spring (London and New York:
Routledge, 2014), pp. 39-68.
http://195.229.156.73/record=b1693420

Mine Eder, Turkey, in The Middle

Turkey East, pp. 830-865

Driss Maghraoui and Saloua Zerhouni,

13 Week 13 Morocco
Morocco, in The Middle East, pp.
660-687

14 Week 14 Conclusion and final Comments

15 Week 15 Conclusion and final Comments

16 Final Exam
Week 16