POST 139 PZ -Politics of the Middle East

Institution: Pitzer

Description: As the holder of one of the world’s largest reserves of petroleum and natural gas, the Middle East has been the focus of regional and international competition for several decades. In this course we will analyze ideologies, actors, and events that have shaped the domestic, regional, and international policies of states of this region up until the present. Who are the major players in the political arena of the Middle East and what are the key issues of conflict and cooperation among states in the region and the world outside the Middle East? What are the domestic and international obstacles to democratization in the region? And finally, what factors triggered the rapid rise of diverse Islamist currents across the region and how can we explain the causes of violent sectarian conflicts in countries like Iraq and Syria?

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal.

Please check course schedule for requirements.