Jihadi and non-jihadi insurgencies in the MENA region

Course content

Since the early 1970s, the Middle East region has been one of the most war-torn and conflict-ridden regions of the world according to Uppsala & PRIO conflict data. The past decade has been especially devastating as protracted civil wars erupted in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings, and in 2023 the October 7^th attack set off a new and much more lethal phase in the conflict over Palestine and Israel. The past decade has also witnessed the rise of global extremist insurgencies in the Middle East when the so-called ¡°Islamic State¡± seized vast territories in Syria and Iraq, proclaiming a Caliphate and attracting tens of thousands of foreign fighters from nearly all corners of the world.

This course provides the students with a broad understanding of the armed conflicts in the region since the 1970s, including causes, types, and patterns of armed conflicts. The syllabus literature discusses both the historical background for, and evolution of, a range of past and ongoing conflicts. It explores conceptual tools and methodological approaches for better understanding of armed conflicts in the region.

The course focuses empirically on non-state insurgent movements, from Marxist rebels in the 1970s, Kurdish insurgents in the 1980s, Islamist insurrections in the 1990s, to jihadi insurgencies and proto-states in the 2000s and 2010s. The Hamas/Hizbullah/¡±Axis of resistance¡± vs. Israel conflict will also be a case study. Particular attention will be devoted to comparing the Islamic State and its various jihadi affiliates (¡°provinces¡±) in the 2010s with non-jihadi insurgencies.

Learning Outcome

After completing this course, you will have:

• Been introduced to the study of violent conflicts and insurgencies in the MENA region.
• Expanded your insight into the historical background of the rise of militant Islamist movements.
• Developed an interdisciplinary and comparative understanding of insurgent movements and terrorist groups more broadly in the MENA context.
• Developed analytical skills when studying diverse theoretical approaches as they are applied to elucidate empirical cases.
• Deepened your critical reading skills for understanding debates on the impact of religion, ideology, mass media and globalization on violent conflicts.
• Learned to distinguish between fruitful, as opposed to less productive, theoretical approaches to empirical analysis.
• Enhanced your writing skills and oral communication proficiency through essay writing and class presentations.

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 activity: 

1. Oral presentation of 12-15 minutes at one of the seminars.
   • The presentation should include slides and handouts.
   • The topic of the oral presentation cannot overlap with the theme chosen for the term paper or the given topic for the short discussion paper.
2. A draft sketch of the term paper.
   • The sketch should be at least two pages long and must include a working title, a research question, a tentative outline of the argument, and a bibliography.
   • The draft sketch is to be submitted in Canvas by the first week of April 2025.
   • This must be approved by the teacher in order to take the exam.

All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities. 

Approval of the compulsory draft of the term paper is only valid for the current semester. If you retake the course, you must submit a new draft in the semester in which you are taking the exam. 

You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignments and the submission deadline in Canvas. 

Absence from compulsory activities

• Here you will find information about compulsory activities at the Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages.

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam. 

More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo: 

• Common guidelines relating to compulsory activities

Access to teaching 

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity. 

Examination

Portfolio exam.

The exam will be a portfolio consisting of:

1. Term paper.
   • The term paper should consist of 10 pages. One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count. 
2. A discussion paper on a topic given by the instructor. 
   • The discussion paper should consist of 3 - 4 pages. One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count.
3. The slides & handout used for the obligatory class presentation.

Detailed information regarding the exam format will be announced on Canvas. 

You must submit the exam in Inspera ¨C see guides for digital exams.

You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam. 

All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam. 

You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.