DAFF 25A22 - Women and Political Development in the MENA Region

This course examines the relationship between women and political development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It explores the historical evolution of women’s political, social, and legal status across key periods, including postcolonialism, the rise of Islamist movements, and the Arab uprisings. The course analyzes changing patterns of women’s political representation and participation, while addressing contemporary issues such as judicial politics, gendered rentierism, political parties, local governance, conflict, and peacebuilding. Through comparative perspectives with other global regions, students critically assess women’s political development and also engage with underexplored themes, including gender minorities, and the role of foreign aid in empowering women in the region.

Course objectives:

Engage with key concepts and theories to understand gendered power relations in the MENA region.

Advance students’ analytical skills through exposure to diverse regional case studies.

Understand the major debates among feminist theories and approaches in the region.

Examine the impact of religion, authoritarianism, conflict, revolutions, and democratic backsliding on women’s political roles and experiences, as well as women’s influence on these processes.

Compare women’s political development in the MENA region with other global regions.

Students may read the following readings prior to the first session:

Lynch, Marc, 'Introduction: The Project of Middle East Political Science: Research Agendas for a Maturing Field', in Marc Lynch, Jillian Schwedler, and Sean Yom (eds), The Political Science of the Middle East: Theory and Research Since the Arab Uprisings (New York, 2022; online edn, Oxford Academic, 23 June 2022), https://doi-org.proxy.library.nd.edu/10.1093/oso/9780197640043.003.0001

What is the Middle East?: https://teachmideast.org/what-is-the-middle-east/

Mixed formats:

• Traditional lesson format by presenting slides with main points of the lecture.
• Students review content before class.
• Interactive methods with students, by putting grades on participation.
• Presentations done by students.