HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

Within the framework of the course in Language, Politics and Economics of the Arab countries, this teaching module aims to provide an overall picture of the governance systems of the Arab Countries, focusing in particular on the institutional transitions from the pre-colonial era until nowadays, including the results of the recent Arab revolts. In particular, methodological tools will be provided in order to understand the colonial systems, the functioning of democratic and authoritarian systems and the state building processes, which will be applied to some case-studies.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
knowledge of the dynamics related to colonization processes, nationalisms and processes of state building occurred in the MENA region since the 19th century; understanding of the conceptual tools related to the functioning of democratic systems, authoritarian systems and institutional transitions (coups d'état, revolts, revolutions).

2. Applying knowledge and understanding:
ability to apply the tools of contemporary political history to the study of the institutions of the Arab countries and to the analysis of the most recent events, in a critical and autonomous way.

3. Making judgements:
ability to critically and consciously evaluate political and institutional contexts and their evolutions in the MENA region.

4. Communication skills:
Ability to illustrate the different aspects dealt with in the course in a clear and analytical way.

5. Learning skills:
Ability to critically integrate the documents provided by the teacher and the notes taken in class.

Knowledge of the contemporary history of North Africa and Middle East.

Imperialism and colonization; forms of government and legal systems; nation, nation-state and state building; democracy / authoritarianism. Case-studies: Egypt (From Muhammad 'Ali to al Sisi: riots and authoritarianism in Egypt), Morocco (XIX-XXI sec., Continuity and discontinuity of the Kingdom of Morocco); Tunisia (democratization processes).

Bibliography and handouts will be provided during the classes and upoloaded on moodle platform

Suggested preparatory readings

DE POLI, B., I musulmani nel Terzo Millennio, Carocci, Roma 2007.
EMILIANI, M., Medio Oriente, 2 voll., Laterza, Bari 2012.
GUAZZONE, L., Storia contemporanea del mondo arabo, Mondadori,Milano 2016.


Further readings will be provided during the class.

The exam will consist of a paper of max 30,000 characters to be agreed with the teacher. More details on the paper will be provided during the course.
The paper will be aimed at verifying the learning of the topics dealt with during the course, as well as verifying the student's critical and autonomous analysis skills.
Students must study the documents uploaded on the moodle page of the course and the chapters of the textbook indicated both in the handouts and in the course summary (see moodle).

Lectures with power point, commenting readings and video material.

Italian

oral