HISTORY AND CULTURE OF MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

The course goal is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the field of the South Mediterranean studies by drawing on a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Among the major topics covered are: conceptualizing the Mediterranean and Euro-Mediterranean relations, multiculturalism in the Mediterranean, conflict before and after the Arab uprisings, as well as economic cooperation in the region.

A general knowledge of the South Mediterranean history.For a short cultural history the student can read Corrao F.M., 2017, Islam Religion and Politics, Luiss University Press. It is also possible to find on the platform the Mediterranean Pills, to have a short presentation of the major issues of the course.

1. Have a critical understanding of major political, social, cultural, and economic developments in Euro-Mediterranean relations.
2. Identify and deconstruct stereotypical ideas about the Mediterranean.
3. Assess current political and economic dynamics in Middle Eastern and South Mediterranean countries in an interdisciplinary perspective. 
4. Understand the history and identity of the Mediterranean region.
5. Enhance their verbal presentation and written skills.
6. Use reliable first and second hand sources including academic publications, internet resources Media Modern and Contemporary History, to learn about the history of Islam in the Mediterranean

•The Mediterranean and the Arab world: East-West trade from the Age of the Islamic Empires to the Modern States 
• Social and Cultural change from Panarabism to Political Islam. 
The opening to foreign capital investments.
•Mediterranean Economic landscape. •The Youth Bulge. Mediterranean Transitions. 
 • The silk road across the Arab countries
 •Civil Wars and New Challenges: Iraq, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and Qatar.
 • Women Empowerment 
 • Political Islam in the Mediterranean.

Corrao F.M., Redaelli R., State, Actors, and Geo-political Drivers in the Mediterranean, Palgrave, 2021.
Further readings: Corrao F.M., Islam Religion and Politics, LUP 2017. 
 Ghalioun, Burhan. “The Persistence of Arab Authoritarianism.” Journal of democracy 15.4 (2004): 126–132. 
 Pace, M. (2014) “The EU's Interpretation of the 'Arab Uprisings': Understanding the Different Visions about Democratic Change in EU-MENA Relations”, JCMS, Volume 52, Number 5. pp. 969-984.
 
 Maha Yahya “A Storm of Imperfection”, Carnegie Middle-East Center, https://carnegie-mec.org/diwan/80933. 

 Jihane Sfeir, "Les Libanais entre exaltation et angoisse, vent debout contre la corruption des élites"; — https://theconversation.com/les-libanais-entre-exaltation-et-angoisse-vent-debout-contre-la-corruption-des-elites-125610

 Jihane Sfeir « Palestinian Historiography, between History and Memory », in Roger Heacock (ed.), The Archival Globalization of Palestine. Towards a Chaotic Order, Birzeit University Press, p. 241-256. Sercan Canbolat, Have Middle Eastern Leaders Learned from the Uprisings? An Arabic Operational Code Approach https://www.ir-journal.com/storage/media/5463/01JSPY61S8ZBXEEVPECN0HAYHC.pdf

A balanced combination of various teaching techniques including lectures, discussions, team work and other class activities as well as video materials will be implemented
 •Lessons will be based on lectures with slides in class which will introduce students to the specific topic, and 
seminar. Attendance is mandatory, absences for internships are not justified (only in special cases authorized by the Area Director) other absences must be announced and motivated.


The assessment includes: quizzes, power point presentation (or a paper).
Work evaluation: Team work (10%) answers to the quizzes (10%), power points (20%) for a total of 40% of the final mark.
- Partecipation to class work: 10% If a student cannot attend the course will prepare a paper (3000 words max) - the Midterm written exam: test with 10 multiple choice questions (1 point for correct answer, -1 for wrong answer); and 5 open-ended questions (3 points with correct answer down to -3 for wrong, partial or incomplete answer), for a total of 30%. The duration of the exam is one hour. 
 
- the final oral exam deals with the second part of the program (after the Midterm) for a total of 30%. 

 Subsequent sessions:
Traditional oral exam on the whole program. Please note: the results of laboratory tests also apply to subsequent exam sessions. Guidelines for assignement: In all power point and written assignments, you should give your own evaluation of the subject based on the readings with proper citation and bibliography. Please engage in the texts and cite whenever is possible. Please do not use ChatGPT. Plagiarism and the use of ChatGPT for the assignments will result in an automatic failure for the course. Citing your sources: For references, please use footnotes. When you cite a source in a footnote, please use the author’s last name and book or article title, and add the complete reference in the bibliography. Attach a full bibliography providing full publication data for each text cited in your power point, or paper or thesis.

Thesis assignment criteria: final score 30/30 and good analytical skills. 
If the grade is 28/30, The teacher may consider an experimental thesis if attendance and participation in the course activities have been commendable.