Courses

The faculty at the Crown Center teach innovative courses at Brandeis University to advance students' knowledge of the region.

Fall 2025 
 

ANTH 118B – Culture and Power in the Middle East
Beth Derderian
Tuesdays and Fridays, 12:45-2:05 PM

Examines the peoples and societies of the Middle East from an anthropological perspective. Explores problems of cross-cultural examination, the notion of the Middle East as an area of study, and the role of anthropology in the formation of the idea of the "Middle East." To this end, the course is divided into sections devoted to understanding and problematizing key concepts and themes central to our understanding of the region, including tribe and state, family and kinship, gender and sexuality, honor and shame, tradition and modernity, and religion and secularism. Course materials will include critical ethnographies based on field work in the region as well as locally produced materials such as literature, music, film and other visual arts. Usually offered every fourth year.



The Road to September 11th and Beyond: History and Media
Naghmeh Sohrabi & Neil Swidey
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:20-3:40 PM

The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center ushered in two U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and drained the U.S. Treasury of at least $8 trillion. 9/11 radically changed the dynamics between the U.S. and the Middle East, along with those between the press and military and government officials. Co-taught by a historian of the modern Middle East and a journalist who extensively covered these events, this course aims to give students a fresh lens for examining the history and the aftermath of this crucial event from both a Middle Eastern and American perspective. Usually offered every second year.



NEJS 157B – Arab-Jewish Modern Thought and Culture
Yuval Evri
Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30-3:50 PM

This course explores modern Arab-Jewish thought and culture, focusing on philosophical, literary, and artistic expressions that highlight the interconnected identities and cultural exchanges between Arab and Jewish communities. Students will examine texts and cultural artifacts that offer insights into the shared and contested heritage of Arab-Jewish relations. Usually offered every second year.



NEJS 189B – Formative Moments in the Disputed Land of Israel-Palestine
Yuval Evri
Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:05-5:25 PM

This course delves into pivotal moments in the history of Israel-Palestine, exploring key conflicts, cultural developments, and political shifts that have shaped the region. Through an examination of primary sources, literature, and political narratives, students will gain a nuanced understanding of this disputed land's complex history. Usually offered every second year.



POL 164A – Seminar: Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East
Shai Feldman, Abdel Monem Said Aly, and Khalil Shikaki
Mondays, 2:30-5:20 PM

Provides students with historical and analytic mastery of the Arab-Israeli conflict in a novel way. Through immersion in three competing narratives—Israeli, Palestinian, and pan-Arab—students will gain proficiency in the history of the conflict as well as analytic leverage on the possibility of its resolution. The course is organized as a seminar and is premised on active student participation. Usually offered every year.

 

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