Many of the critical issues facing our world focus on, or otherwise involve the 'Middle East'. This unit covers the core knowledge of the Middle East from the 19th to the 21st century. We start with the emergence of the modern Middle East from the fall of the Ottoman Empire, at the end of the Great War to the present. We discuss the Ottoman legacy in the region and the Western impact on the creation of new nations. We review the emergence of Arab nationalism, the modernisation efforts of Middle Eastern governments, the struggle of various peoples for political independence, social and culture changes, issues of religion and state, and the evolution of Islamist politics. In this unit, we also discuss the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its impact on the region, the First Gulf War and we conclude with a comprehensive analysis of the “Arab Spring” by placing the current revolutions and events in their historical context.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.