Current Course Offerings
Spring 2012 Course Offerings
IMES 105a War and Revolution in the Middle East
T,F 9:30 AM–10:50 AM
Prof. Makiya
Considers the impact of war and revolution in the shaping of the modern Middle East starting with the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Focuses on the violent turning points that have changed the lives of millions of people.
Elective Courses
AAAS 175a Comparative Politics of North Africa
T 6:30 PM–9:20 PM
Prof. Nyangoni
Explores the formation and development of political cleavages and cleavage systems, and of mass-based political groups, analyzing the expansion of mass political participation, elections, the impact of the military on political groups, and international factors. Usually offered every third year.
ANTH 80A — Anthropology of Religion
T,F 11:00 AM–12:20 PM
Prof. Golomski
An introduction to the anthropological study of human religious experience, with particular emphasis on religious and ritual practice in comparative perspective. Examines the relationship between religion and society in small-scale, non-Western contexts as well as in complex societies, global cultures, and world historical religions. Usually offered every second year.
ARBC 103b1 Advanced Literary Arabic II
M,T,W,Th 1:00 PM–1:50 PM
Prof. El-Tobui
Prerequisite: ARBC 40b or the equivalent. Four class-hours per week.
Designed to help the student attain an advanced proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding. The syllabus includes selections from classical and modern texts representing a variety of styles and genres. Usually offered every year.
FA 68a Israeli Art and Visual Culture: Forging Identities Between East and West
T,Th 5:00 PM–6:20 PM
Prof. Ankori
May not be taken for credit by students who took FA 153a in prior years.
An examination of the visual arts created in Israel since the beginning of the twentieth century. Combines a chronological overview of major trends with an in-depth examination of select case studies of individual artists and specific themes.
M,W,Th 12:00 PM–12:50 PM
Prof. Wright
An introduction to and description of the Semitic languages, the internal relationships within this linguistic family, and the distinctive grammatical and lexical features of the individual languages. Usually offered every third year.
NEJS 174b1 Israeli Women Writers on War and Peace
M,W 2:00 PM–3:20 PM
Prof. Szobel
Prerequisite: HBRW 141a, 143a, 144a, 146a, or permission of the instructor. Course is taught in Hebrew.
An exploration of nationalism and gender in Modern Hebrew literature. By discussing various Hebrew texts and Israeli works of art and film, this course explores women's relationship to Zionism, war, peace, the state, politics, and processes of cultural production. Usually offered every second year.
NEJS 189b: Memory Wars: Collective Memory, Political Myths and History
T,Th 3:30 PM–4:50 PM
Prof. Feige
Examines the question of understanding, interpreting and using
the past as an issue of growing interest in the world today. This
course will discuss theories and cases regarding the presence of
the past in contemporary society, culture and politics, with
special concentration on Israel and the Middle East. Special
one-time offering spring 2012.
T,Th 2:00 PM–3:20 PM
Prof. Thaxton
Introduction to twentieth-century revolutionary movements in the Third World, focusing on the emergence of peasant-based resistance and revolution in the world beyond the West, and on the role of state violence in provoking popular involvement in protest, rebellion, and insurgency. Usually offered every year.
POL 145b The Islamic Challenge: Politics and Religion in Western Europe and the United States
T 2:00 PM–4:50 PM
Prof. Klausen
Few issues have caused more public furor than the accommodation of Islam in Europe and the United States. It is often overlooked that Muslims are developing the institutions of their faith in societies that offer everyone the freedom of choice and expression. This seminar looks at religious discrimination as a barrier to the civic and political inclusion of Muslim immigrants, the responses of governments, courts, and the general public, and what we know about the balance among "fundamentalist, " "moderate," and "progressive" Muslim viewpoints. Usually offered every year.
M,W,Th 11:00 AM–11:50 AM
Prof. Shavarini
A broad introduction to the multidimensional nature of women's experiences in the Muslim world. As both a cultural and religious element in this vast region, understanding Islam in relation to lives of women has become increasingly imperative. Usually offered every second year.
Modern Period
ECON 122b The Economics of the Middle East
M,W 3:30 PM–4:50 PM
Prof. Habibi
Prerequisite: ECON 2a or the equivalent. Does not count toward the upper-level elective requirement for the major in economics.
Examines the Middle East economies – past experiences, present situation, and future challenges – drawing on theories, policy formulations and empirical studies of economic growth, trade, poverty, income distribution, labor markets, finance and banking, government reforms, globalization, and Arab-Israeli political economy. Usually offered every year.
IMES 105a War and Revolution in the Middle East
T,F 9:30 AM–10:50 AM
Prof. Makiya
Considers the impact of war and revolution in the shaping of the modern Middle East starting with the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Focuses on the violent turning points that have changed the lives of millions of people.
NEJS 177a The Holocaust in Israeli and Jewish Literature
M,W 3:30 PM–4:50 PM
Prof. Szobel
A broad survey of Holocaust writings in Modern Jewish literature. Examines the psychological, social, moral, and aesthetic challenges involved in representing the Holocaust in Israeli, American, and European context through literary texts, theoretical research, works of art, and film. Taught in English. Usually offered every third year.
NEJS 197b Political Cultures of the Middle East
M 2:00 PM–4:50 PM
Prof. Makiya
Explores the way in which people make assumptions about power, authority, and justice. Focuses on Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq, explaining the evolving language of politics in these states. Usually offered every second year.
SOC 157a Sociology of the Israeli-Palestinian Confrontation
T,Th 2:00 PM–3:20 PM
Prof. Fellman
An introduction to Jewish and Palestinian nationalisms; relevant sociological, political, religious, and resource issues; social psychological dimensions; and the conflict in world politics. Usually offered every second year.
Classical Period
NEJS 186a Introduction to the Qur'an
M,W,Th 11:00 AM–11:50 AM
Prof. Lumbard
Traces the history of the Qur'an as text, its exegesis, and its role in inter-religious polemics, law, theology, and politics. Examines the role of the Qur'an in modern Islamic movements. Usually offered every second year.
NEJS 195a: Muhammad: The History of a Prophet
M,W 2:00 PM–3:20 PM
Prof. Lumbard
A study of the life of Muhammad based upon the earliest
biographical accounts and the academic analyses in both
Islamic and not-Islamic sources, accompanied by an
examination of his legacy in different aspects of Islam, such as
Shi’ism and Sufism.