2010-2011 Academic Catalog

Dec 21, 2024

2010-2011 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

HIST 062 - War and Peace in the Middle East

Type of Course: First-Year Seminar

Explores the cycle of war and peace in the Middle East during the past 100 years in order to answer three questions: What role has ethnic identity played in prolonging violent conflict in the region, not merely between Arabs and Israelis, but also between Shiite and Sunni Muslims? Have the United States, the Soviet Union and the other great powers served more as peacemakers or troublemakers in the Middle East? To what degree is the contemporary confrontation between America and radical Islam “a clash of civilizations”? Case studies will range from the birth of Israel to the September 11 attacks and their aftermath. Students will write a series of brief essays based on historical and literary documents ranging from the Balfour Declaration to Osama bin Laden’s fatwa against the United States. Fulfills the Historical Perspective. First preference for enrollment will be given to students in the International Studies Stream. Others will be admitted on a space available basis.

Instructor: Mr. Little

When Offered: Offered periodically

Faculty: Douglas Little, Ph.D. - Professor of History