Political Science 266

POLITICS OF THE PERSIAN GULF REGION

Spring 2008

Purpose:  This course examines the recent political history of the Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula region – Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the smaller Gulf monarchies (though with less emphasis on the latter), the current war in Iraq (with particular emphasis on both American policy and the local and regional dynamics of the Iraq issue) and Iranian-American relations. 
 

Organization:  The course is broken up into three sections.  In the first, we will read three recent political histories of the major regional states – Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.  We will focus throughout this section on trying to understand why their regime types are so different – revolutionary Islamic republic, conservative Islamic monarchy, (until recently) a semi-secularist single-party system – and how one thing they have in common – enormous oil wealth – affects their politics and political development.  We will also try to understand how Islam fits into their political systems.  The second section will focus on the origins and consequences of the 2003 Iraq War.  The third section will examine the history and current dynamics of the Iranian-American relationship.

From time to time I will be unable to attend a regularly scheduled class, because of academic or other obligations out of town.  I reserve the right to schedule make-up classes during the semester and during reading period to cover any material in the syllabus that was not completed during the semester.
 

Grading:  This is a seminar course.  All students are expected to attend every session, and be prepared to participate in class discussions.  To that end, class participation will account for 25% of each student's grade.  As part of that class participation grade, each student will be responsible for beginning the discussion of the readings for one class.  That entails preparing a 15-20 minute presentation on the readings and the major questions they raise at the outset of that class, and being ready to answer the instructor’s questions about the readings.

The remaining 75% of the grade will be three papers, each worth 25% of the final grade.  The first two will be analytical essays based on the readings assigned for the first and second sections of the course.  At the end of the syllabus is a list of the questions from which you will choose to write those first two essays.  Each paper will be a maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced, typed.  The third essay will be on an issue related to the current situation in Iranian-American relations.  It, also, will be a maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced, typed.  Suggested research topics are listed at the end of the syllabus, but you may also propose another topic to the instructor if you wish.  That final paper will be due on May 5.  (The scheduled date for the final exam in the course is May 2 – this gives you a few extra days to work on the paper.)

Books:  The following books are available for purchase at the Bookstore.  NONE of these texts is on reserve, so I strongly recommend that you purchase them.

-Nikki R. Keddie, Modern Iran :  Roots and Results of Revolution

-Phebe Marr, The Modern History of Iraq (2^nd edition)

-Madawi Al-Rasheed, A History of Saudi Arabia

-Ali Ansari, Confronting Iran

-George Packer, The Assassins' Gate:  America in Iraq

Other readings will be distributed in class, are directly available at the URL’s listed on the syllabus (with direct links from the class web page) or can be accessed through the Bailey-Howe catalogue of electronic journals.

Classroom Protocol -- The Department of Political Science requires that this classroom protocol, defining minimum standards of conduct, be included in all syllabi.

1.  Students are expected to attend and be prepared for ALL regularly scheduled classes.

2.  Students are expected to arrive on time and stay in class until the class period ends.  If a students knows in advance that s/he will need to leave early, s/he should notify the instructor before the class period begins.

3.      Students are expected to treat faculty and fellow students with respect.  For example, students must not disrupt class by leaving and reentering during class, must not distract class by making noise, and must be attentive to comments being made by the instructors and by peers.

SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS, READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS

January 15-17:  Introduction to the Course, A Background Lecture
 

January 22-24:  Pre-Revolutionary Iran

-Keddie, Modern Iran, Introduction, Chapters 1-8

January 29-31:  The Iranian Revolution and the Islamic Republic

-Keddie, Modern Iran, Chapters 9-12, Conclusion

 
February 5-7:  Saudi Arabia:  The Creation of the Modern State

-Al-Rasheed, A History of Saudi Arabia, Introduction, Chapters 1-4
 

February 12-14:  Saudi Arabia:  Oil Wealth and Political Challenge

-Al-Rasheed, A History of Saudi Arabia, Chapters 5-7, Conclusion

 
February 19-21:  Iraq:  The Creation of the Modern State

-Marr, The Modern History of Iraq, Chapters 1-6

February 26-28:  Iraq under the Ba’th Party

-Marr, The Modern History of Iraq, Chapters 7-10, Epilogue

March 4:  Town Meeting holiday

March 6:  First Essay Due

March 6:  The International Politics of the Gulf Region                                                                                                     

            -background lecture

March 18-20:  Origins of the Iraq War

            -Packer, The Assassin’s Gate, Chapters 1-4

            -F. Gregory Gause, III, “September 11 and the Iraq War,” distributed via e-mail

            -Edward L. Morse, “Fighting for Oil?” The National Interest, Summer 2004, distributed via e-mail

March 25-27:  The Problems of Occupation

            -Packer, The Assassin’s Gate, Chapters 5-10, 12, Epilogue

-Larry Diamond, “What Went Wrong in Iraq,” Foreign Affairs,

September/October 2004 (full text available through Bailey-Howe electronic resources)

            -Toby Dodge, “The Causes of U.S. Failure in Iraq” Survival, Vol. 49, No. 1, Spring 2007 (full text available through Bailey-Howe electronic resources)

April 1-3:  Where to Now?  American Policy Options in Iraq

            -The Iraq Study Group Report, www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/index.html

            -Steven Simon, “America and Iraq:  The Case for Disengagement,” Survival, Vol. 49, No. 1, Spring 2007 (full text available through Bailey-Howe electronic resources)

            -Edward P. Joseph and Michael O’Hanlon, “The Case for Soft Partition in Iraq,” Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution, Analysis Paper #12, June 2007, http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2007/06iraq_joseph/06iraq_joseph.pdf

            -Anthony Cordesman, “Pandora’s Box:  Iraqi Federalism, Separatism, ‘Hard’ Partitioning and U.S. Policy,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 26, 2007, http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/10242007_iraqhardpartition.pdf

            -Rend Rahim Franke, “Political Progress in Iraq During the Surge,” United States Institute of Peace Special Report #196, December 2007, http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr196.pdf

April 10:  Second Essay Due
 

First Essay – choose one of the following topics.  Write an analytical essay based upon the assigned readings (no need for outside research).  Essay should not exceed 10 pages in length.  It must be typed, double-spaced.  Due on March 6.

1.  Why was there an Islamic revolution in Iran, but no similar, successful popular upheavals in Iraq or Saudi Arabia in its aftermath?  What sets the Iranian experience apart from that of Saudi Arabia and Iraq?

2.  Monarchy failed as a regime type in Iraq and Iran, but still persists in Saudi Arabia.  What explains that difference?

3.  Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have very different forms of government, but a common economic basis – oil.  In what ways has their common reliance on oil wealth led to similarities in their politics, despite their very different regime types?  (Consider Iraq up until the fall of Saddam Hussein in the 2003 war.)

Second Essay – Choose one of the following two topics.  Write an analytical essay responding to one of these questions based upon the assigned readings (no need for outside research).  Essay should not exceed 10 pages in length.  It must be typed, double-spaced.  Due on April 10.

1.  Can the U.S. make Iraq into a democracy?  If so, what steps should it take and why?  If not, why not?

2.  Why did the United States invade Iraq in 2003?  Make sure to discuss alternative explanations in your essay.  Given the reasons for the invasion, has American policy toward Iraq been successful?

Third Essay – Write an analytical essay responding to these questions based upon the assigned readings (no need for outside research).  Essay should not exceed 10 pages in length.  It must be typed, double-spaced.  Due on May 5.

What are the prospects for the United States and Iran reaching a “grand bargain” settlement of the issues between them?  If it is possible, what policy steps would each side have to take to achieve that “grand bargain”?  What are the obstacles blocking such steps.  If a “grand bargain” is not possible, why not and what should American policy toward Iran be?

USEFUL LINKS TO THE WEB ON GULF ISSUES