Sample Syllabi 5
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, pp. 17-39
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
Course Requirements:
a) Regular attendance and active participation in class discussions, 15%
This course is conceptualized as a seminar that is discussion- (and not lecture-) based. Students are expected to come regularly to class prepared and in a position to discuss the assigned texts. Being prepared implies first, that students need to have read all the assigned texts before our class meets. Second, it means that students are ready to refer to passages in the texts that pertain to questions posed by the presenting student or myself and come up with new questions that can frame our discussions.
Attendance: Each student will be allowed up to three absences (regardless of reason). The class participation grade will be reduced by1/3 of a letter grade for each additional absence. After four absences the student will receive a formal warning; two more absences after such warning will cause the instructor, in conformance with College policies, to drop the student from the course.
The absence policy implies that students need to save their absences for emergencies, such as sickness. If you must miss a class due to an emergency, please email me about it, preferably before you miss the class.
Lateness: Three times late (more than a couple of minutes) will equal one absence.
b) Two (9-10 pages double-spaced) papers, on assigned topics, 20% each
Students need to first, provide a clear statement of their question and thesis; second, outline a thorough reconstruction of the thinker’s arguments; third, engage in a critical evaluation of the discussed thinker; fourth, provide a clear conclusion. Students also need to properly cite and use textual evidence to support their arguments.
Late Papers: Late papers will be penalized 1/3 of a letter grade for each day that they are late. Extensions will be granted only if you have made arrangements with me at least 24 hours in advance of the due date and ONLY in exceptional circumstances.
c) Three in-class presentations
1) Each student will be responsible for presenting (maximum 10 minutes) the main ideas/arguments and a critical evaluation of the arguments found in the assigned text for one session. The student will also distribute an outline of her/his presentation for all members of the class at the time of presentation, 10%
2) Each student will also be responsible for presenting (maximum 5 minutes) both of her/his two research papers, 5% each
Missed Presentations: A make-up presentation will be granted only if you have made arrangements with me at least 24 hours in advance of the due date and ONLY in exceptional circumstances.
d) 2 Pop-up quizzes, 10%
I will ask you to write down the five main points of the reading for the day
e) Final exams: Tuesday, April 27, 8.30am-11:30am, 10%
General Course Policies:
Absences: You can only complete the course if you complete ALL requirements (active class participation, two research papers, three in-class presentations and the final exams).
Professionalism: Students need to come to class on time and prepared, contribute to class discussions, take notes in class, listen to others while they speak, not sleep in class, not interrupt the class by talking to peers, and not leave the room during sessions, except in the event of an “emergency.”
Electronic Devices: No electronic devices may be used in class and during tests. Cell phones must be silenced prior to class.
Academic Integrity: Enrollment constitutes acknowledgement of the rules and standards pertaining to academic integrity at Roanoke College. Students are expected to be aware of the principles in the College Academic Integrity Handbook.