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AMST40570

Academic Year 2024/2025

The U.S. and the Middle East (AMST40570)

Subject:
American Studies
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Centre For American Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Eugenio Lilli
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Understanding the region of the Middle East is critical for any student interested in international affairs. In this module we look specifically at the role that the United States has long played in Middle Eastern politics. In fact, despite talks about a US withdrawal from the region, the Middle East today arguably remains a key region for the protection and promotion of the US national interest.

This is a portfolio module. Aside from a first introduction session, there will be no other in-person sessions. Instead, students will be required to conduct autonomously a number of research assignments. The nature of the specific assignments will be clearly explained at the beginning of the module. However, generally speaking, they will be analyses of current issues in the Middle East that have implications for US foreign policy. The analysis pieces will be accompanied by reflective pieces explaining the research process behind such analyses. Reflection, simply put, involves stepping back from an event or experience to analyze it, with a view to improving future performance.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module you will gain a sophisticated understanding of key foreign policy issues concerning the United States in the strategically important region of the Middle East.
You will also develop transferable reflective and research skills. Reflection, simply put, involves stepping back from an event or experience to analyze it, with a view to improving future performance.

Indicative Module Content:

- great powers' competition
- democracy promotion
- nuclear proliferation
- Orientalism and Occidentalism
- Persian Gulf energy resources
- radicalization and foreign fighters
- the special relationship with Israel
- others


Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

156
Seminar (or Webinar)

4
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a portfolio module. Aside from a first introduction session, there will be no other in-person sessions. Instead, students will be required to conduct autonomously a number of research assignments. The nature of the specific assignments will be clearly explained at the beginning of the module. However, generally speaking, they will be analyses of current issues in the Middle East that have implications for US foreign policy. The analysis pieces will be accompanied by reflective pieces explaining the research process behind such analyses. Reflection, simply put, involves stepping back from an event or experience to analyze it, with a view to improving future performance.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Cleveland and Bunton (5th edition or newer), 'A History of the Modern Middle East', Westview Press. Or any similar manual on the history of the Middle East.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Individual written project leading to the submission of an analysis piece along with a reflective piece explaining the research process behind the analysis. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 Graded No
50
 No
Individual Project: Individual written project leading to the submission of an analysis piece along with a reflective piece explaining the research process behind the analysis. Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will be advised to perform the recommended self-assessment activities throughout the duration of the module. Feedback on the individual projects will instead be provided individually if requested.

The complete reading list will be presented at the beginning of the module. The vast majority of the readings will be made available through Brightspace.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
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