FRS 002W —
Sec. 001 —
(2 units) — CRN 45518 — F 2:10-4:30pm — 912 Sproul
Oil, Israel, and Conflict in the Middle East
Instructor: Dennis Dingemans, Department of Geography,
College of Letters
and Science
Description: This course explores the political geography of
the Middle East. We will read three excellent books that review historical and
political geography contexts of a half-century of conflict and
turbulence in the
Middle East. We will compare the observations and interpretations of
these books
with events of the most recent decade that could vindicate or modify
the conclusions
reached by the three authors. Current events of relevance to the past
and present
conflicts will be discussed each week, based in part upon a reading of the news
journal The Economist. David Fromkin's much-praised book [A Peace to
End All Peace:
Creating the Modern Middle East, 1914 - 1922 (1989)] will be read and used as
a summary of the role of Europeans and other outside powers that
shaped the basic
map of today's countries. Daniel Yergin's comprehensive history of
oil's discovery,
exploitation, and influence [The Prize (1991)] reviews the quirky way that the
gulf region's great share of the world's energy supply was developed
and its economic
benefits distributed locally. Martin Gilbert's review of a century of recurrent
Arab-Israeli conflicts [Atlas of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (seventh
edition, 2002]
illustrates wonderfully the benefits of mapping information as a contribution
to spatial understanding. The course will explore several of the instructor's
proposals for territorial exchanges and compromises that will more the region's
states toward more peaceful international relations. Our main goal is to build
familiarity with the geographical roots of the long-running conflicts
in the Middle
East. Conflicts over boundaries are close to the core of the
problems: the boundaries
of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, and Iraq are notably contested and probably
need to be revised for deeply-seated antagonisms to be ameliorated.
Students will
gain a good mental map of the terrain, resource, and ethnic patterns
that underlie
the current and likely future boundaries. Historical understanding will also be
enriched, and a goal will be to build an accurate understanding of the role of
indigenous decision making as well as the impositions of outside powers in the
setting of today's state boundaries.
Format: The class will meet from 2:10 to 4:30 on
Friday afternoon.
We intend to meet in some combination (depending on a few rival uses) of Room
912 Sproul (the most beautiful seminar room on campus, a room with a schedule
controlled by my program) and Room 104 Sproul. The eight class
meetings will begin
with two weeks of presenting the instructor's summary and the student's state
of current understanding. The three books will each get a full session and part
of a follow up session. The last weeks will be given largely to slightly-longer
student presentations that build upon the shorter student presentations during
the middle of the course when we review the three key books. Students will 1)
read the three books in whole or significant part; 2) read a source of current
news to be updated on events in the Middle East; 3) visit the UCD map library
in Shields Library to consult our terrific collection of regional
atlases, topographic
maps, and air photographs of Middle East countries.
Grading:
Students will have to make three class presentations for 40% of their
grade: one
will be on current event developments in the region; one will be on a
major theme
in the three books; one will be a longer presentation that critiques one of the
books. Class discussion participation will be worth 30% of their grade. A short
essay that proposes and defends a revised country boundary will be
worth the remaining
30% of the course grade. There will be no final exam. The last class will be in
the 8th week of the quarter and the last written work will be due by the 10th
week of the term.
About the
Instructor: