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78034-01 - Seminar: Social Movements and Revolutions in the Modern Middle East (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Burak Sayim (burak.sayim@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | How to distinguish between social mobilizations, revolts, rebellions and revolutions? Which social groups and actors have historically led revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa? Why have some social mobilizations been successful in taking state power or producing profound social change, and why do others fail? Do revolutions always beget positive social change? With these general questions in mind, we explore the history of different types of social mobilisations and revolutions throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Drawing on several disciplines, using academic essays, films, and novels to explore both the causes and the consequences of revolutions from the 19th century until today. |
| Learning objectives | Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: Distinguish revolution from various related concepts, such as revolts, coups, and evolutionary political change. Identify the main questions at issue in recent debates over how to conceptualize social movements and revolution in the modern Middle East and North Africa. Explain how the concept of revolution can be rendered operational and deployed in empirical research with examples. Write a coherent paper about one particular revolution or social movement. |
| Comments | Dear students, The maximum number of students admitted to this class will be 30. Priority will be given to students in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 18.02.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 04.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 11.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 18.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 25.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 01.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 08.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 15.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 22.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 29.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 06.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 13.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 20.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Wednesday 27.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum 0105 |
| Modules |
Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Fortgeschrittene Nahoststudien (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Spezialisierung «Geschichte und Polititsche Bildung» (Master's Studies: Subject-Specific Teaching and Learning) Modul: Themen der Near & Middle Eastern Studies (Master's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Transfer: Europa interdisziplinär (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Module: Europeanization and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Module: Religion, Society, State (Master's Studies: Interreligious Studies) Module: The Urban across Disciplines (Master's degree program: Critical Urbanisms) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nahost-Studien |