CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF THE ARAB COUNTRIES

As part of the degree course, the module aims to provide a general overview of the contemporary history of Arab countries, starting from the end of the Ottoman Empire up to the 2011 uprisings. It will retrace the main events in the history of the region, focusing on the most relevant cultural, social, economic and political aspects, and will enable students to acquire the knowledge and analytical tools for a better understanding of contemporary affairs.

- Knowledge of the main phenomena characterising the contemporary history of Arab countries (from the end of the Ottoman Empire to the 2011 uprisings).
- Ability to critically analyse the main political, social and economic dynamics of the contemporary history of Arab countries.
- Ability to interpret current issues from a historical perspective.
- Ability to present the knowledge learnt in a clear and articulate manner.

Knowing English to read the sources

The major phases of the Arab countries' contemporary history (1800-2011):
- The age of modernisation (1800-1920): the Ottoman decline, modernising reforms, the beginning of European colonialism and the First World War
- The age of colonialism and notables (1920-1945)
- The Age of Revolutions in the Arab World (1945-1979): the new post-independence regimes, the beginning of oil exploitation, the Arab-Israeli conflict
- The Restructuring of the Arab World (1979-2011): the Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq conflict (1980-1988); oil rent crisis; structural adjustment programmes; the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990); the first and second Gulf wars (1990-1991 and 2003); the civil war in Algeria (1990s); the Palestinian question; the evolution of political Islam; the Arab revolts (2010-2011)

Within the different phases, specific themes and country cases will be explored.

- Guazzone L., Storia contemporanea del mondo arabo, Mondadori, 2016 (available in the library)

- Other reference texts will be published by May.

The course has two modes of assessment.

The student can choose between two modes:

a) The first mode consists of mid-course tests and an oral final examination. During the lectures the student will be asked to do group or individual works on a part of the programme. The oral examination will focus on the part not covered in the mid-course tests.

b) The second mode consists of a single final examination: an oral examination on the entire programme.

written and oral

With regard to grading (the way in which grades will be assigned), irrespective of the
attending or non-attending mode:
A. marks in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- limited ability to collect and/or interpret data, making independent judgements;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language relating to the
economic operation of public services;
B. marks in band 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- discrete knowledge and applied comprehension skills with reference to the syllabus;
- discrete ability to collect and/or interpret data, making autonomous judgements;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language relating to the
economic operation of public services;
C. scores in the 27-30 bracket will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and applied comprehension skills with reference to the syllabus;
- good or very good ability to collect and/or interpret data, making independent judgements;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of the specific language that
relating to the economic operation of public services.
D. Honours will be awarded in the presence of applied knowledge and understanding with reference to the
programme, judgement and communication skills, excellent.

- Lectures with the use of power-point
- Presentation of case studies and country cases
- Analysis of primary sources (audio-visual material, written documents) and maps.
- Supplementary in-depth readings (not compulsory for the examination).