Political Science: Minorities and Ethnic-Sectarian Conflict in the Middle East

<p>The course analyses the historical development of ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East from the downfall of the Ottoman Empire to the present day. The course also draws attention to the unique aspects of different groups in the MENA area, such as the Kurds, Alawites, Maronites, Shiites and Sunnis.</p> <p>The course also deals with the dominant theories about ethnic and / or sectarian identity (primordialism, constructivism and instrumentalism) and applies the theories to arguments about the role of group identities in politics. The course identifies circumstances under which identity-based conflicts tend to arise, and explains the causes and consequences of identity-based conflicts.</p> <p>Based on an interdisciplinary approach, the significance of history, culture, religion, inequality, fear and insecurity for ethnic / sectarian conflicts is treated. The importance of geography, environmental issues and competition for natural resources is also highlighted. In this context, three case studies are presented: the civil war in Lebanon, Iraq after Saddam Hussein, and the Kurds in Turkey and northern Iraq.</p>