MSc Middle East Politics

SOAS, University of London

Master

In City of London

£ 11,545 + VAT

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Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    City of london

  • Start date

    Different dates available

Start of programme: September intake only
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time
Politics and international relations in the Middle East display many of the characteristic features of the modern world. Contentious legacies of imperial map-making fuel frontier disputes and throw into question the legitimacy of the territorial nation state. Governments have been repeatedly challenged by populations tired of the old rationales for authoritarian rule and angered by its repressive effects. The politics of national identity, sometimes bound up with ideas of religious identity, have been given new urgency by class conflict, by military occupation and by the growth of the security state. Meanwhile, the long history of external intervention in the states of the region has heightened domestic and regional tensions.
The degree offers students an opportunity to study politics in the region through a number of disciplinary approaches, such as political sociology (class, gender, ethnicity and sect), comparative politics (state power, political economy of development, democratic openings and nationalism), and international politics (war, international political economy, regionalism and dependency). At the same time, it provides thematic courses that encourage students to look at political processes in the region from distinct perspectives, such as the study of political violence, the examination of the politics of resistance and the understanding of Islamic political ideologies and political movements.
At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work. Students are expected to read extensively, to make a number of presentations and to engage actively in seminar discussions. They are also expected to write substantial papers, guided by their course tutors, but requiring significant independent work.
Convenors
Laleh Khalili

Facilities

Location

Start date

City of London (London)
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Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open
Different dates availableEnrolment now open

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This centre's achievements

2018

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The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 7 years

Subjects

  • Credit
  • Politics
  • IT
  • International Politics
  • Social Anthropology
  • International
  • Public Sector
  • Transferable skills
  • Political
  • Political ideologies
  • Political violence

Course programme

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Students must take 180 credits comprised of 120 taught credits (including core and option modules) and a 60 credit dissertation.

Core: 15PPOH008 Political Society in the Middle East OR 15PPOH011 State and Transformation in the Middle East with any module in List A2.

ONE full credit module (or equivalent) from List B, ONE full credit module (or equivalent) from List B or C and ONE full credit module (or equivalent) from List D.

AND

Dissertation on some aspect of Middle East Politics (compulsory).

A. CORE - choose two 15 credit modules, ONE in Term 1 and ONE in Term 2:List A1: Combined with ONE of the following 15 credit modules offered in Term 2:
  • State and transformation in the Middle East
  • Islam and politics
  • Islam and political ideologies
List A2: In combination with any ONE of the following 15 credit modules:
  • Political society in the Middle East
  • Political violence
  • Politics of resistance in the Middle East
B. 30 or 60 credits from the following Regional Politics modules (if not already chosen under List A1 or A2)
  • International politics of the Middle East
  • State and Society in Central Asia and the Caucasus
  • Geopolitics and Security in Central Asia and the Caucasus
  • Political violence
  • Politics of resistance in the Middle East
  • Islam and politics
  • Islam and political ideologies
C. Up to ONE full unit (or the equivalent in half-units) from the following DISCIPLINARY politics courses:
  • Politics of Globalisation and Development in Asia and Africa
  • State & society in Asia & Africa
  • Comparative International Political Thought
  • Islamic/Democratic Political Thought
  • Political Thought on the Just Rebellion
  • The Indian Ocean in World Politics
  • The Law & Politics of State Violence: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Social Research
  • Foreign Policy Analysis
List D: modules offered in other departments:

Language courses: students should chose the language they wish to take from the list below. They should then make contact with the relevant Module Convenor during welcome week who will assess which level of course would be appropriate, and will advise re. changing course enrolments if necessary.

  • Introduction to Standard Modern Arabic
  • Elementary Written Persian
  • Elementary Hebrew (PG)
  • Elementary Written Turkish
Modules focused on the Middle East in a cognate discipline:
  • Turkey:Continuity and Change
  • Islamic Law (MA/LLM)
  • Economic development of the Middle East
  • Israel and the Palestinians
  • Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East I
  • Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East II
  • Gender in the Middle East
  • Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications
  • Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies I: History and Politics
  • Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies II: Culture and Society
  • Iran: History, Culture, Politics
  • Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
Dissertation- this would focus on an aspect of Middle East Politics:
  • Dissertation in Political Studies

This is the structure for 2018/19 applicants

If you are a current student you can find structure information on Moodle or through your Department.

Programme Specification
  • Programme Specification 2012 (pdf; 129kb)
Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules

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MSc Middle East Politics

£ 11,545 + VAT

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