West Asia in International Relations

Paper Code: 
MIR 424- B
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Learning Objectives:The objective of the Course Paper, is to acquaint and introduce the student genre, to the broad geographical and geopolitical expanse of the Middle East, in context of historical setting with a dynamic contemporary narrative.

  • The course will facilitate a holistic and integrated comprehension of the principal regional and cross-regional issues and impulses.
  •  It will acquaint the students with the political underpinning and security dynamics in the region.
  • The course will provide analytical understanding of the impinging impact of regional and major powers in the region.

Learning Outcomes:On completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • Develop critical understanding of area studies in International Relations.
  • Reflect comprehensively on the strategic importance of Middle East in the global context and the competent interests of state and non state actors.
  • To formulate concrete arguments about challenges within the region, foreign policy orientations of the nations, diplomatic postures, areas of cooperation and national security imperatives.
  • Develop an in-depth interrogation of the principle issues of conflict and contention, conditioning West Asia’s engagement with competing regional powers and emergent and rising global powers.

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Unit- I

Introduction to West Asia (Geographical location, Political System, Brief History)

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Unit- II

Major Conflicts in the region-: Israel- Palestine Conflict, First and Second Gulf Wars

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Unit- III

Organisation of Cooperation-: The Arab League, OPEC, OAPEC, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Unit- IV

Major Issues in the region -: Oil Politics, ISIS, Counter-Terrorism, competing international interests

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Unit- V

Role of Major World and Regional Powers -: U.S., Russia, India, Egypt

 

Essential Readings: 

Essential Readings:

  • Barrett, R. (2016). The Gulf and the Struggle for Hegemony: Arabs, Iranians and the West in Conflict. Washington, D.C.: Middle East Institute
  •  Mabon, Simon. (2015). Saudi Arabia and Iran: Power and Rivalry in the Middle East. London: I.B. Tauris.
  • Gelvin, J. (2015). The Modern Middle East: A History. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  •  Brownlee, J., Masoud, T and Reynolds,A.( 2015). Eds. The Arab Spring: Pathways to Repression and Reform. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bickerton, I and Klausner, C. (2014). A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. London: Routledge.
  • MacQueen, B. (2013). An Introduction to the Middle East. CA: SAGE.
  • Cooper,A.S. (2012). The Oil Kings: How the US, Iran and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East. New York: Simon & Schuster.
  • Lynch, M. (2016). The New Arab Wars: Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle East. New York: Public Affairs.
  • Kumaraswamy, P.R. and Roy, M.S.( 2018). Ed. Persian Gulf 2016-17: India’s Relations with the Region. New Delhi: Pentagon Press
  • Kumaraswamy,P.R.( 2010). India’s Israel Policy. New York: Columbia University Press

 

References: 

Reference Books:

  • Cleveland, W. C. (2009), History of Modern Middle East,Philadelphia : Westview Press.
  • Lybarger, L. D. (2007). Identity and Religion in Palestine: The Struggle Between

Islamism and Secularism in the Occupied Territories. Princeton: Princeton           University Press

  • Hurd, E. S(2008), Politics of Secularism in International Relation, Priceton,Princeton University Press
  • Ehteshami, A. (2008). Globalisation and Geopolitics in the Middle East. London : Routledge
  • Lacey,R.(2010). Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia. London: Penguin.
  • Owen,R.( 2007). State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East. London: Routledge.
  • Baxi, U.,(2006) The Future of Human Rights, New Delhi: Oxford University Press

 

Academic Year: 
2019-20
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version