Course Description
Exploration of the origins and development of the struggle for land between Jews and Palestinians, and how that struggle spread throughout the Arab Middle East. We will begin by exploring the growth of Zionism among Russian and European Jews in the nineteenth century as well as the beginnings of nationalism among Arabs in Palestine under the Ottoman Empire. From there we will continue with issues of statehood, nationalism, colonialism and the continuation of the conflict to today.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to completing the papers and viewing the films
required of undergraduates, graduate students must complete a
20-page research paper and present their research as a lecture.
Graduate students must also meet individually with the instructor.
Athena Title
ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLI
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HIST 4535/6535
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are: 1) to enable students to explore the Arab-Israeli conflict from as many historical perspectives as possible; 2) to understand why this conflict involves the entire Arab Middle East; 3) to experience the relevance of history to current events unfolding in the Middle East every day; 4) to learn to debate difficult historical subjects with respect for differing opinions. A principal objective of the course is to teach students to think critically for themselves about the relationships between the past and the present, to learn to ask questions of the past that enable them to understand the present and mold the future, and to become attuned to both the limitations and possibilities of change. The course seeks to acquaint students with the ways in which past societies and peoples have defined the relationships between community and individual needs and goals, and between ethical norms and decision-making. In general students will be expected to: 1. read a wide range of primary and secondary sources critically. 2. polish skills in critical thinking, including the ability to recognize the difference between opinion and evidence, and the ability to evaluate--and support or refute--arguments effectively. 3. write stylistically appropriate and mature papers and essays using processes that include discovering ideas and evidence, organizing that material, and revising, editing, and polishing the finished papers.
Topical Outline
-Introduction - Palestine in the 19th century -World War I and the Mandate Era -Arab Nationalism's Beginnings -Zionism, Palestinian Nationalism, Arab Independence -The Creation of the state of Israel and a new group of refugees -Israel society, Arab nationalism -Israeli politics, pan-Arabism and the Suez Crisis -The June 1967 War -The Wars of the Seventies -Looking at Each Other: Palestinians and Israelis -Peace, and then Lebanon -The Intifadah -The Issues that come with Marriage -Can Peace be Attained? On what grounds?
Syllabus