MES4500 – Topics in Middle East Politics and Society I
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Topic spring 2024: Gender and Revolutions: Rethinking the "Women Question" in the Modern Middle East
This course focuses on one or more central topics in the field of Middle East politics and society. These topics are predominantly related to past or ongoing research activities in the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages such as democratization, state-society relations, Islamist movements, minorities, ethno-nationalist conflicts, insurgencies, gender issues, climate change, and the use of social media in the Middle East and North Africa.
The course does not overlap with MES4520 – Topics in Middle East Politics and Society II.
Examples of courses that have been given in MES4500:
- GreenMENA
- Islamist thought and practice in the Arab world
- Making sense of Islamism as an ideology
- Islamist thought
Learning outcome
The course is based on the reading, analysis and discussion of sources in English and, whenever possible, in a Middle Eastern language. You will learn to:
- Analyse primary sources in English translation (or Arabic/Persian/Turkish original for those who know the language)
- Deepen historical and geographical knowledge of MENA region
- Develop stronger analytical and reading skills when studying diverse sources and discourses
- Honing reading, writing, and oral communication skills through essay writing and class presentations
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
MES4000 – Theory, Methodology and Project Description in Middle East- and South Asia Studies
Teaching
The course is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars organised as 10 classes of 2 hours each throughout the semester. The course presupposes active participation.
Compulsory activities
- Active participation in at least 8 seminars.
- Participation in group presentations
- Submission of three analytical draft essays using course literature dispersed throughout the semester. Assignments released one week before they are due.
Approved compulsory activities are only valid for the current semester.
Valid absence
If you have valid absence from the compulsory activity, you must submit an application and hand in documentation.
This is how you apply for a valid absence from compulsory activity.
Examination
The exam in MES4500 is a term paper. At the term’s end, students choose to submit one of the three essays in an expanded and revised form of up to 10 pages (1.5 spaced, excluding bibliography). Students must integrate feedback provided by the professor.
The compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.