Sylabus
1) Introductory meeting; 20.2.: How will we run the course
Join the meeting at https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NTI3NzhhY2ItNzgzZC00MDMyLWEyYTUtN2NhZDllNzRiYzlm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2271cbe59b-f59f-49d8-bed9-6de6b6468917%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ae56fca7-fff5-4870-8d14-c0f8185a9022%22%7d 2) Formation of Modern Levant; 27.2.: Empires, Sects, Mandates and States 3) Lebanese State – Formation and Road to The Civil War; TBD. 4) Lebanon – Civil War and Breakdown of the State; 13.3. 5) Syrian authoritarianism; 20.3.: Inner workings of the Baathist regime, transition of 2000s and road to revolution 6) Post-conflict Lebanon 27.3.: – Harirism, Political Cleavages of the Taif Regime 7) Syrian Civil War; 3.4.: From uprising to Civil War, Rise of Jihadism, Internationalization of the Conflict and Stalemate 8. Lebanese Crises; 10.4.: October Uprising, Political Stalemate and Economic Crisis 9. Syrian Crises; 24.4.: Conflict stalemate; Economic Crisis, Cannibalization of the State 10. The Ongoing Transformation; 15.5: The Fall of Assad, The Weakening of Hezbollah
Anotace
The course will be held online on Thursdays from 15.50 to 17.20. Classroom C235C is available for students who need a space to join online classes on their computer. The introductory class will be held in person.
This course offers an introduction to the politics of contemporary Lebanon and Syria. It aims to go beyond the historical narration of facts and events and provide a broader overview of social issues and processes that underpin and structure political contestations in both countries. The course starts with a brief critical reflection on studying Middle Eastern politics, discussing the challenges of methodological nationalism and the applicability of standard Western Political Science concepts. The course will address the historical background, focusing mostly on the 20th century history and formation of Syria and Lebanon as distinct arenas of political conflict and particular political cultures. The course zooms in on several periods in the current history of both countries and uses them to discuss the wider issues that structure their politics (authoritarianism, political economy, sectarian power-sharing, non-state actors etc.). The course will conclude with a discussion of both countries from a comparative perspective and a reflection on the momentous changes that both countries are currently undergoing.
