INTL282

Formerly: INTL 382. This course studies political institutions, political dynamics, ethno-religious conflicts, state system, historical/colonial background, revolutionary upheavals, political economy, the impact of culture and religion on politics, and external relations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

MENA is a geographic area covering large parts of Africa and Southwest Asia. The traditional definitions of the MENA, however, included only a handful of countries located in Southwest Asia with Egypt as the only country representing Africa. But MENA is a much larger geopolitical and cultural area. The spread of Islam, centuries of domination by Arabs, Turks, and the Persians, and the enduring impact of their cultures and languages well justify a new and more realistic definition of MENA. The new definition to which this course subscribes includes the old designation plus parts of the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the entire North Africa. However, because of time constraint, most of countries located in Central Asia and the Caucasus will fall outside the scope of this course.