- UCAS course code
- VL13
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
The History and Sociopolitics of Palestine/Israel (1882-1967)
Unit code | MEST10042 |
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Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This course unit provides an introduction to causes, consequences and controversies associated with the emergence, development and consolidation of the conflict in Palestine/Israel from 1882 until the 1967 war. Emphasis is placed on both the socio-political and diplomatic aspects of the conflict. This is a Year 1 course.As such, it assumes no knowledge about the topic; students who for whatever reason happen to be somewhat knowledgeable about the topic – or perhaps think that they are -- may find this fact fortunate or unfortunate; yet this course is intentionally geared toward those new to the subject.
Aims
On successful completion of this course participants should have developed:
- skills for critical analysis of one of the world’s single most covered political conflicts;
- general understanding of main processes in the formation of the 20th Century Middle East;
- foundational ability to apply acquired knowledge to broader Middle Eastern histories as well as to regional and meta-regional themes (such as the phenomenon of modern nationalism).
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit successful participants should (1) reach a primary level of factual empirical knowledge in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict; (2) be able to discuss and analyse the development of the conflict intelligently and in nuance; (3) comprehend the principal narratives of its protagonists involved and (4) be able to comment in an informed manner on a range of controversies surrounding this conflict.
Syllabus
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this unit successful participants should:
- reach a primary level of factual empirical knowledge in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict;
- be able to discuss and analyse the development of the conflict intelligently and in nuance;
- comprehend the principal narratives of its protagonists involved;
- be able to comment in an informed manner on a range of controversies surrounding this conflict.
Practical skills
The foundational knowledge acquired is essential for any position in the private or public sector that deals with Israel/Palestine and helpful for any work that relates to the Middle East due to the centrality of the question to the region.
Assessment methods
Assessment task | Weighting within unit (if summative) |
Book review essay | 40% |
Exam | 60% |
Resit Assessment
Assessment task |
Exam |
Feedback methods
Feedback method | Formative or Summative |
|
|
| Formative |
| Formative |
Recommended reading
Charles D. Smith, Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992). Any edition of the book will do.
Secondary articles will be retrieved via jstor.org and uploaded to course blackboard.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Lectures | 24 |
Seminars | 12 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 164 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Moshe Behar | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Meetings with Academic Advisers (4)
2 office hours weekly
Primary sources and lecture notes are in blackboard.