OADI 2405 - New Challenges and Perspectives in Foreign Policies in the Middle East (New course)

***UPDATED for 2024/25***

This seminar uses a mixed format (lectures, student work, etc.) to analyze the new issues defining the foreign policies pursued by a number of Middle Eastern states, as well as the main powers in the international system linked to this region. The aim is to provide a historical overview of the foreign policy pursued by some of the region's state (and sometimes non-state) actors, with particular emphasis on current and future trends. How can we characterize and analyze the diplomacy, military action, religious and cultural policy, global strategy, alliances and rapprochements at work for many states? We will use case studies of specific countries in the Middle East region (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Morocco...), without forgetting to look at other factors (ideological, such as political Islam) or factors outside the region (United States, China, Russia or the European Union) that are trying to act in relation to Middle Eastern issues: conflicts, energy, extremism, migration, refugees...

Learning Outcomes

1. In-depth, up-to-date knowledge of the foreign policies of Middle Eastern states

2. Reflections on the Middle East's place in the international system and its role in the global recompositions currently underway

3. Analysis of links between countries in the region and other components of the international order

4. Consideration and study of the new forms of influence and power used by Middle Eastern states to define and defend their national interests

Professional Skills:

The students will become familiar with:

Different theories of International Relations

The role of major powers in regional politics

Analyzing the major historical and current diplomatic trends in the region

The concept of transnationalism (‘from above and below')

Processes of Islamic and Pan-Arab revival/crisis and its relation to the contemporary issues in the region

The influences of intra-regional and extra-regional migration/ciruclations

The roles of religious minorities and ethnicities in the flows of people, ideas, and identities

How Global and Middle Eastern societies have become intertwined

Old and new alliances involving Middle Eastern states

New configurations in power politics in the Middle East

Mohamed-Ali ADRAOUI

Séminaire

English

- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

- Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

This seminar is aimed at second-year students in the International Governance and Diplomacy Master's program who are interested in the Middle East region in contemporary international relations, and who are particularly motivated by the idea of studying the new issues and players characterizing the main countries in the region, as well as the diplomacy of the major powers in the international system (United States, China, European Union...) in relation to this region. There are no specific prerequisites for this seminar.

Spring 2024-2025

(i) Individual work: paper/policy brief. In 3,000 words max., using a high-quality bibliography, the student should shed light on a specific foreign policy issue involving the Middle East. In the context of a topic to be agreed between the student and the teacher, the aim will be to identify a particular foreign policy issue (the teacher will propose a list of specific topics, which may include any relevant suggestions from students). Once the topic has been chosen, the student will have to combine the 'paper' and 'policy brief' formats in order to shed light on the main historical, social and political issues raised by the problem in question, and then, in a final page, express possible and conceivable solutions. The student should take a precise point of view. This could, for example, be as a diplomat from a country concerned by the subject in question, a player in an international organization or even a head of state, in order to propose possible future prospects and diplomatic solutions to help alleviate the problems raised in the 'paper' section. (50%);

(ii) Group work: In groups of 2-3 people, you will be asked to present a specific foreign policy issue involving one or more Middle Eastern players, in a maximum of 15 minutes (any more will be penalized). Using freely chosen documents (excerpts from speeches, graphs, images, past, present and contemporary historical documents, etc.), the group must propose a precise and detailed explanation of a foreign policy development currently at work in the region. This could be cultural, religious, energy, diplomatic or military. This assignment is designed to help students learn collective research and presentation methods. A discussion between the group members and the teacher will follow after each presentation, then the debate will be opened to the rest of the class. These presentations will take place in the second half of the semester. There may be one or two presentations per session.. (40%);

(iii) Class participation (10%).

The teacher is available to students throughout the semester, and can provide personalized feedback on a weekly basis on request. In addition, the results of the various assessments linked to the work required of students will be given one week after each group presentation. As for papers/policy briefs, feedback will be given after publication of the results and on request.