Middle East Politics

Politics and international relations in the Middle East display many of the characteristic features of the modern world. Contentious legacies of imperial map-making fuel frontier disputes and throw into question the legitimacy of the territorial nation state. Governments have been repeatedly challenged by populations tired of the old rationales for authoritarian rule and angered by its repressive effects. The politics of national identity, sometimes bound up with ideas of religious identity, have been given new urgency by class conflict, by military occupation and by the growth of the security state. Meanwhile, the long history of external intervention in the states of the region has heightened domestic and regional tensions.

The degree offers students an opportunity to study politics in the region through a number of disciplinary approaches, such as political sociology (class, gender, ethnicity and sect), comparative politics (state power, political economy of development, democratic openings and nationalism), and international politics (war, international political economy, regionalism and dependency). At the same time, it provides thematic courses that encourage students to look at political processes in the region from distinct perspectives, such as the study of political violence, the examination of the politics of resistance and the understanding of Islamic political ideologies and political movements.

At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work. Students are expected to read extensively, to make a number of presentations and to engage actively in seminar discussions. They are also expected to write substantial papers, guided by their course tutors, but requiring significant independent work.

Students take taught courses to the value of 3 full units + dissertation:

1. TWO half units from list A (compulsory).

2-3. TWO full units (or equivalent) from lists B, C or D. No more than ONE unit may be chosen from each list.

4. Dissertation on some aspect of Middle East Politics (compulsory).

A. COMPULSORY- choose two half units, ONE in Term 1 and ONE in Term 2: EITHER:

• Political society in the Middle East - 15PPOH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Combined with ONE of the following half-unit courses offered in Term 2:

• State and transformation in the Middle East - 15PPOH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Islam and politics - 15PPOH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Islam and political ideologies - 15PPOH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

OR:

• State and transformation in the Middle East - 15PPOH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Combined with ONE of the following half-unit courses offered in Term 1:

• Political society in the Middle East - 15PPOH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Political violence - 15PPOH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Politics of resistance in the Middle East - 15PPOH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

B. Up to ONE full unit (or the equivalent in half-units) from the following DISCIPLINARY politics courses:

• State and development in Asia and Africa - 15PPOC017 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• State & society in Asia & Africa - 15PPOC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PPOH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Comparative International Political Thought - 15PPOH021 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Geopolitics: Space and Power - 15PPOH025 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

C. Up to ONE full unit (or the equivalent in half-units) from the following REGIONAL politics courses:

• International politics of the Middle East - 15PPOC027 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• State and Society in Central Asia and the Caucasus - 15PPOH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Geopolitics and Security in Central Asia and the Caucasus - 15PPOH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

The following may only be chosen if they have not already been chosen under list A:

• Political violence - 15PPOH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Politics of resistance in the Middle East - 15PPOH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Islam and politics - 15PPOH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Islam and political ideologies - 15PPOH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

D. Up to ONE full unit (or the equivalent in half-units) from the following courses offered in other departments: Language courses: students should chose the language they wish to take from the list below. They should then make contact with the relevant Course Convenor during welcome week who will assess which level of course would be appropriate, and will advise re. changing course enrolments if necessary.

• Introduction to Standard Modern Arabic - 15PNMC032 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Georgian (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC381 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Elementary Hebrew (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC392 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Written Persian - 15PNMC387 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Written Turkish - 15PNMC386 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Courses focused on the Middle East in a cognate discipline:

• Turkey:Continuity and Change - 15PNMC377 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Islamic law (MA/LLM) - 15PLAC121 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic development of the Middle East - 15PECC341 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Israel, the Arab World and the Palestinians - 15PNMC038 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East I - 15PHIH031 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East II - 15PHIH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Gender in the Middle East - 15PGNH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications - 15PMSH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

E. Dissertation- this would focus on an aspect of Middle East Politics:

• Dissertation in Political Studies - 15PPOC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year

The qualification for entry is normally a first or upper-second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Politics or International Relations, or a related social science discipline. Applicants without such a background may be considered for admission depending on their academic training and undergraduate performance.English language requirementsIn order to ensure that SOAS students have a sufficient standard of English to study effectively, we require overseas students to submit evidence, during the application process, of their current level of proficiency.Score for Unconditional EntryIELTS: Overall 7+ with at least 7 in all sub scoresTOEFL: iBT105+ with at least 25 in all sub scoresPearson Test of English - Academic: Score of 75 or above with at least 70 in all sub scores English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL iBT® test: 105 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Scholarships and Bursaries

There are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.

· The Ahmad Mustafa Abu-Hakima Bursary (programme must include studying the history of the modern Arab world)

· AKS Postgraduate Bursary (in Korean Studies)

· Bernard Buckman Scholarship (MA Chinese Studies, for UK/EU fee paying students)

· The Canon Collins Scholarships at SOAS. There are two scholarships available available in 2013-14 for study at SOAS. These scholarships are for Masters study in any subject field. Open a national of and resident in one of the following countries:
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The application process normally opens in December and closes in February, for study commencing in September the following year. Please go to the Canon Collins website and click "Apply for A Scholarship" and then "Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK" for further information on how to apply.

· Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (for students from African Commonwealth countries)

· D.G.Hall Scholarship (Taught Masters programmes at SOAS, for applicants holding a Burma/Myanmar passport)

· Felix Scholarships (for Indian students)

· Ferguson Scholarships (for African nationals from an African Country)

· HSBC SOAS Scholarships (MA Sinology & MA Chinese Literature, for UK/EU fee paying students)

· Kamran Djam Scholarships (MA Iranian Studies)

· Professor Stuart Wilson Scholarship (MA South East Asian Studies)

· Standard Chartered Scholarships (for a range of full-time Taught Masters programmes. The programmes relate to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East/NorthAfrica)

· Tibawi Trust Awards (for Palestinian students currently enrolled in a programme at SOAS)

· SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Arts & Humanities - (for any full-time taught masters programme in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities)

· SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Language & Cultures (for the full-time MA Gender Studies, MA Postcolonial Studies, MA Linguistics, MA Applied Linguistics & Language Pedagogy, MA Language, Documentation and Description, MA Translation Theory and Practice (Asian and African Languages)

· SOAS Master's Scholarships- Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (for any full-time master's programmes in the Department of Development Studies, Economics, Law, Politics & International Studies and Financial & Management Studies)

· Tallow Chandlers and M. W Beer scholarship (MA) (MA Anthropology of Food, for UK/EU fee paying students)

· William Ross Murray Scholarship (LLM, for students from a developing country)