POLS 2373

This course focuses on only two parts of what we call the Middle, Near East: the first is the Fertile Crescent or Mashrek, which includes Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Syria; the other deals with the states of the Persian Gulf with particular concentration on Iran and Iraq.

Listen and watch a brief video introduction to the course by Prof. Rezun. (1.4 MB - File Size)

No academic requisite; access to a computer with a high-speed modem and internet connection is required.

Dr. Miron Rezun, Departments of Economics & Political Science, University of New Brunswick. E-mail: mrezun@unb.ca

This course examines the politics and societies of the Middle East. The course allows students to communicate with the instructor and with each other through a Discussion Forum, or Chat Room. In the Introduction we explore why the Middle East is important to us in the West. There are excerpts of articles why studying this volatile region is such a messy business. We define the concepts of the major religions and of myths The major thrust of the course is on Islam and the Arab and on Israel. Iran is also studied in some depth as are the themes of oil and water. There is a huge section on the status of women and the Anglo-American occupation of Iraq. Since there is no real theory of Political Science in studying this region, practically everything goes -- from Marxism to Feminism to Postmodernism. Religion plays a big part; so does the issue of political culture and the psychology of the people who live there: rich and poor, pious and atheist, sectarian themes and many ethnic groups. In lieu of theory, per se -- the concept of 'Orientalism" is studied very closely, from every angle. The course focusses heavily on culture, history, psychology and religion.

There are a total of nine sections in this course. The language of the texts is the language used for the most part by the instructor as in a lecture, with many anecdotes, graphs, cartoons, maps and a myriad hyperlinks to the world wide web, for the students' convenience and to render the materials as interactive as possible. There is even one practice quiz. Everything is online; there is no required textbook!

None

Students will be evaluated on the basis of: two assignments that are graded as all essays are graded and a final examination that is written at a designated location, under some form of invigilation.

Click here to find more information on fees for this course.

Fees are subject to change by the Board of Governors.

Once you complete the Apply Now form below, please send payment. Methods of payment accepted:
Cash (Do not send in the mail. Please deliver to the College of Extended Learning, 2nd Level, Wu Centre, UNB Fredericton Campus)
Cheque or money order (Mail to UNB College of Extended Learning, PO Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3)
MasterCard / VISA / American Express (Please call the College of Extended Learning at 1-866-599-4646  or 506 453-4646 with your credit card number, expiry date, and the name as it appears on the card. Please do not send credit card information via email).

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