Syllabus: The Philosophy of Middle-Eastern Politics
Spring 2010, Roanoke College
Prof. Claudia Leeb
Office: West Hall 121
Email: leeb@roanoke.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday, 1- 3 pm
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the philosophy of contemporary politics in the Middle East by examining issues such as the factors of early state-building and its legacies in modern states in the region, and gender politics. Its focus, therefore, will be on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which we study by engaging with contemporary political theorists who aim to understand Middle-Eastern politics from a philosophical point of view.
This study of the texts will improve students’ ability (both orally and in writing) to (1) understand and articulate central arguments developed by the discussed thinkers, (2) critically evaluate these arguments, and (3) strengthen or revise our own beliefs about Middle-Eastern politics in general and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in particular.
Required Books:
(Available at the College Book Store)
1.Edward W. Said, Orientalism (1997, Vintage Books)
2.Mehran Kamrava, The Modern Middle East (2005, University of California Press)
3.Neve Gordon, Israel's Occupation (2008, University of California Press)
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4. Saree Makdisi, Palestine Inside Out (2008, WW. Norton & Company)
Texts available on blackboard:
1. Moghadam Valentine, (Editor) From Patriarchy to Empowerment: Women’s Participation, Movements, and Rights in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (2007, Syracuse University Press), selections.
Course Schedule:
Week 1: Western Knowledge Production about the Middle-East and Power I
Mon. Jan. 11: Introduction: Clarification about course requirements and assignment of student presentations
Wed. Jan. 13: Edward W. Said, Orientalism, Introduction, pp. 1-25.
Frid. Jan. 15: Orientalist Structures and Restructures (I), pp. 111-123
Week 2: Western Knowledge Production about the Middle-East and Power II
Mon. Jan. 18: Said, Orientalist Structures and Restructures (II), pp. 123-149
Wed. Jan. 20: Said, Orientalist Structures and Restructures (III) pp. 149-166
Frid. Jan. 22: Orientalist Structures and Restructures (IV), pp. 166-197
Week 3: Western Knowledge Production about the Middle-East and Power III
Mon. Jan. 25: Said, Latent and Manifest Orientalism, pp. 201-226
Wed. Jan. 27: Said, Orientalism’s Worldliness, pp. 226-255
Frid. Jan. 29: Movie about Said
Week 4: Western Knowledge Production about the Middle-East and Power III
Mon. Feb. 1: Said, Modern Anglo-French Orientalism, pp. 255-284
Wed. Feb. 3: Said, The Latest Phase, pp. 284-328
Frid. Feb. 5: Said, Afterword, pp. 329-352
Week 5: Political History I
Mon. Feb. 8: Mehran Kamrava, The Modern Middle East, From Islam to the Great War, pp. 9-34.
Wed. Feb. 10: Kamrava, From Territories to Independent States, pp. 35-66
Frid. Feb. 12: Kamrava, The Age of Nationalism, pp. 67-106
Week 6: Political History II
Mon. Feb. 15: Kamrava, The Arab-Israeli Wars, pp. 107-137
Wed. Feb. 17: Kamrava, The Iranian Revolution, pp. 138-169
Frid. Feb. 19: 1st paper due, Presentation of papers
Week 7: Political History III
Mon. Feb. 22: Kamrava, The Gulf Wars and Beyond, pp. 169-212
Wed. Feb. 24: Kamrava, The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, pp. 215-256
Frid. Feb. 26: Kamrava, Movie about Palestine/Israel
Week 8:
Spring break
Week 9: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict I
Mon. March 8: Neve Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Preface, Introduction, XV-XXI, pp. 1-22
Wed. March 10: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 1, pp. 23-47
Frid. March 12: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 2, pp. 48-69
Week 10: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict II
Mon. March 15: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 3, pp. 70-92
Wed. March 17: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 4, pp. 93-115
Frid. March 19: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 5, pp. 116-146
Week 11: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict III
Mon. March 22: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 6, pp. 147-168
Wed. March 24: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 7, pp. 169-196
Frid. March 26: Gordon, Israel's Occupation, Chapter 8, pp. 197-122
Week 12: Life under Israeli Occupation I
Mon. March 29: Saree Makdisi, Palestine Inside Out, pp. 1-32
Wed. March 31: Makdisi, Palestine Inside Out, pp. 32-63
Frid. April 2: Makdisi, Palestine Inside Out, pp. 63-93
Week 13: Life under Israeli Occupation II
Mon. April 5: Makdisi, Palestine Inside Out, pp. 95-127
Wed. April 7: Makdisi, Palestine Inside Out, pp. 127-151
Frid. April 9: 2nd paper due; Presentation of papers
Week 14: Women and Palestinian Resistance
Mon. April 12: Moghadam Valentine, (Editor) From Patriarchy to Empowerment
Wed. April 14: Valentine, Iron Breaks, Too: Israeli and Palestinian Women Talk about War,
Bereavement, and Peace, pp. 311-326
Frid. April 16: Valentine, Peace-Building and Reconstruction with Women:
Reflections on Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine, pp. 327-352
Week 15:
Mon. April 19: Summary
Final Exams