Public Policy & Administration 190A - WaterOil&Blood:MidEast/GlblPol

This course introduces students to the contemporary dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa. By using as metaphors three basic substances that are important to the region and the world, the course spans basic issues of Middle Eastern cultures, recent history, and politics in an innovative and interdisciplinary fashion. More specifically, the course includes the attention to Islam, Western colonialism, Israel, Iran, contemporary growth, regional conflicts, the role of the US, and the role of the Arab uprisings of 2011, among other topics. Student participation and involvement in active learning simulations are expected, though no prerequisites are necessary.