Political Science 397RM - ST-Int'l Relations/Middle East

This is a course about the international relations of the Middle East and North Africa. It combines political science concepts with a focus on the interactions of several key states in the area, chiefly Iran and the six Arab monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The course will also consider at length the role of the United States within the region. While we will consider the historical interactions of these countries dating back to the mid-20th century, much of this course will focus on developments within the 21st century. Major topics will include: the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and how this departed from past U.S. policy while structuring regional dynamics through to the present day; the Arab Spring uprisings of 2010-11 and the varying response of the United States and the GCC; Iranian foreign policy towards the region and patterns of US-Iranian engagement and confrontation; international relations within the GCC and interventions elsewhere in the region.

Open to Senior and Junior Political Science majors only.