HIST414 HISTORY OF THE CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EAST:1950 PRESENT
| Course Code: | 2400414 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | History |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. RECEP BOZTEMUR |
| Offered Semester: | Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand and analyze the major political, social, and economic developments in the Middle East from 1950 to the present.
Critically examine the impact of colonialism, nationalism, and the formation of modern Middle Eastern states.
Evaluate the significance of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its broader implications on regional and global politics.
Investigate the role of political Islam and revolutionary movements in shaping the region’s history.
Assess the political dynamics of major Middle Eastern conflicts such as the Gulf Wars and the Syrian Civil War. Discuss the complexities surrounding the global powers' involvement in the region and its ongoing consequences.
Course Content
The course aims at helping the students to develop their understanding of such questions in the Middle East in the 20th century as economic development and political changes; the development of nations, nationalism and the nation-states; the emergence of Pan-Arab nationalism; Arab socialism and Islamic fundamentalism; the role of the military in the nation-state formation; the state and the politics of religious resurrection; Arab-Israeli wars and the Arab Cold War; the Middle East and the new world order.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key events and transformations in the history of the Middle East from 1950 to the present.
- Be able to compare and contrast the political ideologies and movements that shaped the Middle East during this period, including Arab nationalism, political Islam, and Western intervention.
- Develop the ability to analyze primary and secondary historical sources, and construct well-supported arguments regarding Middle Eastern history.
- Display critical thinking in evaluating the causes and effects of ongoing conflicts and challenges in the region.
- Engage in informed discussions about contemporary Middle Eastern issues such as human rights, democratization, and foreign policy.
- Understand the interconnectedness of the Middle East with the rest of the world and its influence on global politics and economics.
- Apply historical knowledge to better understand current political events and debates surrounding the Middle East.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | are familiar with general world historical periods and trends; demonstrate knowledge of key facts, ideas, societies, organizations, cultures, structures and processes related to a variety of historical contexts. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | are familiar with existing scholarly literature, historiography and historical methodology; and have developed the ability to approach them critically. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | are acquainted with interdisciplinary approaches. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | are able to generate research questions and conduct independent historical research by locating and analyzing primary and/or secondary sources; can construct viable arguments based on source interpretation. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | have developed sufficient English language skills; additionally, they have acquired the skill to read both printed texts and manuscripts in Ottoman Turkish. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | are able to present research results both in oral and written form. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | are able to work individually or as part of a team. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | are equipped with academic ethics. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | are aware of modern day issues and current events; have the skills and knowledge to generate informed opinions. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution