Strategically, the Middle East and Central Asia is a region of high national interest to Australia on issues of domestic and internal security, trade, tourism and humanitarian programs. Students completing this Major equip themselves with the capacity to analyse important foreign policy announcements and media coverage of the region as well as global events.
The major integrates the study of Middle Eastern and Central Asian contemporary politics, history, international relations, culture, political economy, business, and the religion of Islam within the broader framework of the changing global order.
Courses concentrate on selected themes concerning political and social change, economic modernisation and regional security against the backdrop of sectarian, ethnolinguistic and ideological diversity, as well as outside interference and geopolitical rivalry.
Learning Outcomes
- describe and explain the socio-cultural, religious, political and economic structures and traditions of the Middle East and Central Asia as well as their historical development;
- analyse contemporary political and social events and developments which continue to shape the Middle East and Central Asia and evaluate their global significance;
- critique contemporary and historical events from a cross-cultural perspective; and
- appreciate contemporary and historical relationships between Middle East and Central Asian states, and with extra-regional states.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
a minimum of 18 units may come from the completion of 3000-level courses.
The 48 units must include:
A maximum of 30 units from completion of the following courses:
MEAS1001 Introduction to the Modern Middle East
MEAS1002 Islam: History and Institutions
MEAS2000 Iranian History and Culture
MEAS2001 New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security
MEAS2003 Modern Turkey: History, Society and Culture
MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy
MEAS2005 Gender and Culture in Iran and the Middle East
MEAS2006 Gallipoli: A Transnational History
MEAS2008 Middle East and Central Asia Study Tour
MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East
POLS2031 Politics in the Middle East
POLS2069 Politics in Russia
A minimum 18 units from completion of the following courses:
ARAB3006 Special Topics in Arabic
MEAS3003 Critical Perspectives on Arabic Culture
MEAS3004 Iran in World Politics
MEAS3005 Modern Iraq: State, Politics and Society
MEAS3007 Syria in the Levant: State, Society, and the Current Turmoil
MEAS3008 Egypt: Social and Political Dynamics in a Changing Middle East
MEAS3009 Modern Arabian Peninsula: Society, Politics and Security
POLS3070 Politics in Central Asia
Back to the top