Introductory description

This module explores the reasons for violence and human rights violations and the possibilities for peace and justice in the Middle East. The module focuses on the case of the ‘Israel-Palestine conflict’ as the most intractable conflict in the Middle East region.

Students will be briefly introduced to mainstream International Relations theories (realism, liberalism and constructivism) in addition to more marginalized approaches, such as postcolonial/decolonial theory, feminism and poststructuralism, in order to assess key debates in the study of the conflict, such as:

Why is the conflict so intractable?
What is the role of memory and history?
What is the role of international law?
What is Zionism and what is Palestinian nationalism and are their goals reconcilable?
Is Israeli state violence against Palestinians legitimate?
Is Palestinian violence against Israelis legitimate?
Why did the Oslo peace process fail? What are some alternatives to the Oslo peace paradigm?
Can Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) bring peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians?
The module will encourage students to critically reflect upon the limitations of mainstream International Relations theories in terms of reproducing dominant relations in the international system and the possibilities that decolonial and other marginalized approaches may challenge these hierarchies, paving the way for more peaceful and just solutions.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

(Indicative topics)

1. Introduction- the challenges of discussing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
2. Competing approaches to studying the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
3. History and Memory
4. Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territory
5. Violence and its Legitimacy
6. Reading Week
7. The Oslo Accords: peace or pacification?
8. Palestinian Non-Violent Resistance
9. Beyond the Two-State Solution?
10. Revision and Essay Writing Advice

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate significant knowledge of the historical and contemporary events related to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the relevant actors involved
• Use IR theories to assess key scholarly debates about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, the reasons for violence and human rights violations and the possibilities for peace making and a just solution.
• Demonstrate an understanding of different notions of peace, justice and the legitimacy of violence in relation to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
• Use IR theories to develop independent positions and arguments in relation to key scholarly debates about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians

Indicative reading list

Charles D. Smith, Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
James Gelvin, The Israel-Palestine Conflict
Ilan Pappe, A History of Modern Palestine
Colin Shindler, A History of Modern Israel
Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Security Theology, Surveillance and the Politics of Fear,

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Independent research for essay writing and completing other assessments

International

Introduces students to an important dimension of the Middle East

Subject specific skills

• significant knowledge of the historical and contemporary events related to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the relevant actors involved
  -an awareness of different IR theories and how they can be used to analyse the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
• applying IR theories to analyse the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and to develop critical assessments of key academic debates
• an understanding of different notions of peace, justice and the legitimacy of violence in relation to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
• knowledge of decolonial approaches to studying the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians

Transferable skills

communication skills (written and verbal), time management, analytical skills, critical skills