Krogerup.dk

The Middle East Behind the Headlines

Ved Garba Diallo - garba krogerup.dk

Toward understanding the social forces driving the Arab Spring and future perspectives in the Middle East.

Although the Middle East has dominated the daily headlines of news media and global debates about international peace and security for decades, few people have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the historical, cultural, economic and strategic factors that make the Middle East what it is today. Therefore the 2011 Arab Spring for social justice and civic freedom came as a huge surprise to both the local regimes and foreign experts alike. Hence, only time will tell what the future holds for the region. Thus, in this course will introduce and analyse the various forces and factors that together will determine the orientation and outcome of the Arab spring. Here we go:

The Arab Spring

For introduction, we will study the recent and rapid transformation taking place across the region known as the Arab Spring, exploring how the peaceful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt have sparked a democratic wave across the region, as young people have taken to the streets in a growing number of countries. The protestors, some 180 million strong, are calling for change and speaking out against ruling dictators and autocrats. They are making universal demands for democracy, human rights, the rule of law, social justice, dignity and a solution to poverty and mass unemployment.

Yet as the revolution continues, the situation in Libya, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain is deteriorating, leading to widespread violence and even war. How the revolution will evolve is unclear—several regimes are unwilling to change and the movement itself lacks a unified leadership and clear agenda. We will examine this fragile situation, keeping in mind that nothing has yet been resolved in any Arab country, even in those countries where the former leaders are gone but real transformation waits to begin.

This course will therefore provide students with relevant knowledge and understanding of the internal and external forces which give rise to the present situation and future scenarios of the region. For this purpose, the course focuses on the following core themes, regions and countries, from different perspectives.

Themes
- Mapping the geopolitical, cultural and religious landscape of the Middle East

Country case studies of the core countries of the Middle East
- 1. Egypt and Tunisia: post revolution, democratisation process : opportunities and challenges
- 2. the Levant: Syria, Libya and Yemen: status and future perspectives
- 3. Israel-Palestine: prospects for peace in the context of the winds of change in the region
- 4. The Arabian Peninsula: Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States: oil, tradition and politics
- 5. Iran: Political Islam in the new context
- 6. Turkey: Islam, democracy and modernity

In conclusion, the participants will reflect on the
- • Peace perspectives
- • Democratisation process

Methods
-  Introduction lectures
-  Discussion, group work and presentations by students of selected themes for deeper study and analysis
-  Documentaries and follow up discussion
-  Guest speakers

Check key info sources

The Arab Spring docs

The Zero Silence Project

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline http://www.amnesty.org/en/middle-east-crisis

The Arab Spring videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThvBJMzmSZI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgs7jAhDMc0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgs7jAhDMc0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgn3MVNsPb0&feature=related http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/06/2011697182458919.html

Studiekredsen er på engelsk, så de internationale elever kan deltage.