The Making of the Modern Middle East

Aims of the course

This course aims to:
1. Deliver a stimulating and enjoyable series of talks and discussions both for those with a general or specific interest in the region and for students in higher or further education.
2. Provide both a broad and a long context to enable you to further develop your knowledge and critical analysis of a complex and often contested set of issues.
3. Encourage you to contribute at whatever level they wish.

Content

The ’Middle East’ is rarely out of the headlines, retaining a centrality and exerting extraordinary influence. Indeed, the very term connotes a region that represents and encapsulates so many of the major currents of historical development, from its most ancient heritage, the emergence of the three principal monotheistic religions, external penetration by a series of very different empires, and on to 20th century nationalism, world wars, ideologies, post-colonialism and conflict. How can we best begin to understand why as a region it is so contested, often chaotic and frequently violent?

With its narratives continuing to be dominated by human insecurity, often poor (or even non-existent) governance and degrees of fragility, Rupert Wallace’s series of talks will concentrate on five arenas that will provide a framework within which to analyse and discuss the factors that have contributed to the Middle East that we see today.

Starting with the demise and collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, which set the conditions for a power vacuum and subsequent western penetration, the first session (Transformation) will look at the far-reaching effects of the First World War, the Mandates of the inter-war period and the emergence of oil as a key resource, concluding with the convulsive geopolitical shifts occasioned by the Second World War. The second session offers a Case Study of the State of Israel, focusing on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the increasingly irreconcilable aspirations of Jews and Arabs, the creation of the State of Israel, the reactions of the Arab states, and the emergence of a Palestinian movement. This will be followed by a third session (Independence, Aspirations and Possibilities), looking at the wider situation of the region in the post-war decades, using the lenses of the Cold War, the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, and the increasing involvement of the hitherto more distant United States. It will also feature a case study of the key events of 1979.

The impact of the much-trumpeted ‘American moment’ as the Soviet Union collapses, analysis of the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the military campaign in Afghanistan, together with the significance of the emergence of revolutionary Iran as a major regional actor, will be the subjects of the fourth session (Interventions and Seeds of Chaos). The final session (Uprisings, Upheaval and Uncertainty) will look at the Arab Uprisings, the significance of three blocs led respectively by Turkey and Qatar, Iran, and a Sunni/Israeli coalition, concluding with a discussion of where we are today and what the future might hold for this crucial region.

Presentation of the course

The course will be taught in five two-part sessions (a total of 10 sessions over two weeks). Rupert will deliver the course in an informal and discursive style, encouraging questions and points as he goes along, leading to wider discussion. He will always be available after each class to discuss and develop further any aspect of the issues covered, and to offer advice and support to those who are considering submitting written work for formal evaluation. Above all, Rupert emphasises inclusivity and a space that can comfortably accommodate a range of paces and preferences, from those who might choose to partake more by listening, to those who wish to be more active and to take intellectual risk.

Class sessions

1. Transformation (1): New imperialism, 19th Century to 1914.

2. Transformation (2): World wars and nationalism, 1914-1945.

3. Case Study: The State of Israel (1): Zionism, Arab demands, and Partition, 19th Century-1948.

4. Case Study: The State of Israel (2): Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli Conflict and Confrontation 1948-2023.

5. Independence, Aspirations and Possibilities (1): Arab Nationalism, the Cold War and a Third Way, 1945-1979.

6. Independence, Aspirations and Possibilities (2): The Critical Year: 1979.

7. Interventions and the seeds of chaos (1): American Unipolarity and fresh penetrations: 1989-2003.

8. Interventions and the seeds of chaos (2): Battle Lines Drawn, 2003-2010.

9. Uprisings, Upheaval and Uncertainty (1): Uprisings and the emergence of new blocs: 2010-2023.

10. Uprisings, Upheaval and Uncertainty (2): What Now and Where Next? 2023 and Ahead.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:

1. Knowledge and understanding of the key events, developments and individuals in the period.
2. Deepened understanding of the issues relevant to the period, reached through relevant reading and through debate and discussion in class.
3. Construction of reasoned and supported argument in response to questions, based on close and critical reading of the historical literature.

Required Reading

Philip Robins, The Middle East (A Beginner’s Guide), (One World, 2016)

Eugene Rogan, The Fall of the Ottomans (Allen Lane, 2015)

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.