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| Semester | fall semester 2023 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Aline Schläpfer (aline.schlaepfer@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This class engages in a critical reading of the construction of spaces, territories, and areas, with a focus on the notion of Near/Middle East – defined by a set of modern historical factors (Orientalism, archeology, colonialism, World Wars, and the Cold war, among others). The class first provides an overview of the various stages of the formation of an entity called the Near or Middle East in the 19th and 20th century, from a geohistorical perspective. In a second stage, students explore various attempts to replace the concept of the Near/Middle East since at least the 1960s (Davison 1960), bringing together tropes and ongoing debates in the field (West Asia, MENA, WANA, SWANA, etc.). Upon completion of this course, students will have gained knowledge about some of the most important milestones in the development of the notion of Near/Middle East and develop a capacity to critically approach the importance of nomenclature (and, more broadly, of epistemology) in geopolitical power relations. |
| Learning objectives | Upon completion of this course, students will have gained knowledge about some of the most important milestones in the development of the notion of Near/Middle East and develop a capacity to critically approach the importance of nomenclature (and, more broadly, of epistemology) in geopolitical power relations. |
| Bibliography | James Barr, A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle for the Mastery of the Middle East (London: Simon & Schuster, 2012) (chapter 1). |
| Comments | Students studying in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the bachelor’s level have priority enrollment. Due to the high amount of advising required by the course design (see note regarding regular writing exercises under “Assessment details”), we can only admit up to five students from other programs to this proseminar. Aufgrund des hohen Betreuungsaufwandes im Proseminar durch die eingebauten regelmässigen Schreibübungen (siehe Hinweise zur Leistungsüberprüfung) können wir neben den Studierenden des Bachelorstudienfaches Nahoststudien nur fünf weitere Studierende aus anderen Fächern aufnehmen. |
| Course application | SESSION 1 26.09.2023 SESSION 2 10.10.2023 SESSION 3 24.10.2023 SESSION 4 07.11.2023 SESSION 5 21.11.2023 SESSION 6 05.12.2023 SESSION 7 19.12.2023 |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-täglich | Tuesday | 14.15-17.30 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 26.09.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Tuesday 10.10.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Tuesday 24.10.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Tuesday 07.11.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Tuesday 21.11.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Tuesday 05.12.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Tuesday 19.12.2023 | 14.15-17.45 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum U115 |
| Modules |
Electives Bachelor Jewish Studies: Recommendations (Bachelor's degree subject: Jewish Studies) Modul: Ethnographien (Bachelor's degree subject: Anthropology) Modul: Themen der Nahoststudien (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Vertiefung Geschichte (Bachelor's degree subject: Jewish Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | In order to prepare enrolled Students for the challenge posed by writing a proseminar paper, this proseminar regularly incorporates a variety of writing exercises. These exercises may consist of short critical reviews of the mandatory course readings, handwritten summaries of the discussions in a particular class session, minutes, or others. Students will always receive substantive feedback on these exercises from the instructor. Um die teilnehmenden Studierenden auf die Herausforderung der an das Proseminar anschliessenden Proseminararbeit vorzubereiten, werden regelmässig verschiedene Schreibübungen eingebaut, zu denen die Studierenden immer eine inhaltliche Rückmeldung von der jeweiligen Dozentin / Dozenten erhalten. Diese Schreibübungen können zum Beispiel kurze schriftliche Bewertungen der jeweils anstehenden Pflichtlektüre, handschriftliche Kurzzusammenfassungen der Inhalte der Diskussion in der aktuellen Unterrichtseinheit oder Protokolle umfassen. This class is based on interactive learning teaching methods. Students are expected to attend classes regularly, have done the weekly readings provided in the syllabus (available on ADAM) and be prepared to actively participate in seminar discussions. Besides, students are expected to prepare one oral presentation, based on one text (15 minutes presentation). During their presentation, students provide a PowerPoint (with 1-2 slides – template provided on ADAM). Additionally, students are expected to submit 2 “reaction papers” (instructions provided below). For students who aren’t able to present a text orally during class, 3 reaction papers are mandatory. Absence policy: missing a maximum of 2 classes (1 session) is allowed. |
| 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 |