Introductory description

This module explores the relationship between politics and culture in the Middle East. The module is based on a broad definition of politics that seeks to understand the exercise of power beyond formal political institutions, focusing on the politics of race and coloniality, gender, nationalism, heteronormativity, sexuality and popular culture. Whilst the module is concerned with the Middle East and North Africa, a large number of readings focus on Egypt, as the most populous and one of the most significant geopolitical actors in the region, which, therefore, has attracted the lion’s share of scholarly attention.

You will be briefly introduced to different approaches to understanding the relationship between politics and culture, drawing on postcolonial studies, cultural studies, anthropology, gender studies and queer studies. In particular, the module focuses on the complex relationship between resistance and power, the ongoing legacies of colonialism and the intersections of gender, nation, sexuality and class.

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.

Weekly topics (indicative)

1. Representation: understanding the relationship between culture, power and politics
2. Imagining the Middle East
3. Gender and Nationalism
4. Women's Rights and women's activism in postcolonial states
5. Heteronormativity and the Nation
6. Reading Week
7. The Politics of Sex and Race in Israel-Palestine
8. Studying Class and Masculinities through Subcultures
9. (Popular) Culture and Resistance: the Case of the Arab Uprisings
10. Revision and Essay Writing Advice

Learning outcomes

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

• - Demonstrate significant knowledge of the ways in which politics and culture intersect in the Middle East and North Africa.
• -Use relevant theories from cultural studies, postcolonial studies and anthropology (amongst others) to analyse contemporary political dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa.
• - Demonstrate an understanding of how race, gender, sexuality and class intersect and are constitutive of political processes and dynamics in the politics and International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa.
• -Critically assess the notion of culture as a site of resistance and domination.

Indicative reading list

• Roger Owen (2004), State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Middle East
• Nicola Pratt (2007), Democracy and Authoritarianism in the Arab World
• John Chalcraft (2016) Popular Politics in the Making of the Middle East
• Andrew Hammond (2007). Popular Culture in the Arab World: Arts, Politics, and the Media. New York: The American University in Cairo Press.
• John Storey (2015) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction
• John Street (1997) Politics and Popular Culture. Cambridge: Polity Press.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Independent research for essay writing

Interdisciplinary

Engages with theories from anthropology, cultural studies, postcolonial studies, feminist studies, queer studies

International

Introduces students to the Middle East and North Africa region

Subject specific skills

• knowledge of the ways in which politics and culture intersect in the Middle East.
  -knowledge of relevant theories from cultural studies, postcolonial studies, feminist studies, queer studies and anthropology (amongst others)
  -application of theories to analyse the relationship between politics and culture
• understanding of how race, gender, sexuality and class intersect and are constitutive of political processes and dynamics in the politics and International Relations of the Middle East.

Transferable skills

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