HSS - School of Law and Government header
School of Law and Government

Law and Government - module specifications - LG563

law and government

module specifications - lg563

This information is provisional and subject to change.
Module Title

The Politics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Module Code LG563
School Law and Government
Module Co-ordinator Dr. Adam Mc Auley Office Number

Q138

Level Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Module Aims
To develop an understanding of the Arab-Israeli conflict and to analyse it in the context of more general debates in the wider political science literature, i.e. the persistence of nationalism, the role of religion in politics, the `state'' of democratic rule in the region, strategies for conflict resolutions, external-internal linkages.
Learning Outcomes
Students should acquire an insight into the complexity the Arab-Israeli conflict, which will hopefully dispel some of the conventional wisdom usually surrounding its understanding. Also, students should acquire the ability to link the politics of the conflict to wider debates and issues in international politics.
Indicative Time Allowances
Hours
Lectures 24
Tutorials 0
Laboratories 0
Seminars
Independent Learning Time 51
Total 75
NOTE
Indicative Syllabus
  • Overview of the course. A contested history for a contested land
  • A contested history for a contested land. Part II
  • The power of political ideology. Zionism and the creation of the state of Israel.
  • The power of ideologies. Palestinian nationalism and the role of religion.
  • The Israeli political system. Democracy or apartheid state?
  • The Palestinian political system. Developing democracy or another Arab dictatorship?
  • The role of the diasporas.
  • The international dimension of the conflict. The role of the United States and the European Union.
  • The international dimension of the conflict. The role of Arab countries and the role of international organisations.
  • The failure of the peace process.
  • Challenges ahead.
Assessment
Assignment 1:
50%
Assignment 2:
50%
Indicative Reading List
Course texts
  • Dan Cohn-Sherbok and Dawoud El-Alami, The Palestine-Israeli Conflict , 2003
  • Ilan Pappe, A History of Modern Palestine , 2004
  • Shau Mishal and Avraham Sela, The Palestinian Hamas , 2000.

Selection of required readings:

  • Fred Gottheil, "The Smoking Gun: Arab Immigration into Palestine, 1922-1931", Middle East Quarterly , Winter 2003. Available at http://www.meforum.org/article/522 .
  • Benny Morris, "Pandora in Zion", New Left Review , March/April 2004.
  • Khalil Shikaki, "Palestinians Divided", Foreign Affairs , Vol. 81, No. 1, January/February 2002.
  • Mia Bloom, "Palestinian Suicide Bombing: public support, market share and outbidding", Political Science Quarterly , Vol. 119, No. 1, Spring 2004.
  • Steven Everts, "The Ultimate Test Case: Can Europe and America forge a joint strategy for the wider Middle East?", International Affairs , Vol. 80, No. 4, July 2004.
  • Jeremy Pressman, "The Second Intifada: Background and Causes of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict", The Journal of Conflict Studies , Vol. 23, No. 2, Fall 2003.
  • Andrew Kydd and Barbara Walter, "Sabotaging the Peace: the Politics of Extremist Violence", International Organization , Vol. 56, No. 2, Spring 2002.
  • Jeroen Gunning, "Peace with Hamas? The Transforming potential political participation", International Affairs , Vol. 80, No. 2, March 2004.
Programme or List of Programmes

MA in Globalisation, MA in International Relations
MA in International Security and Conflict Studies

Date of Last Revision: November 2004