The Persian Gulf in the 21st Century

This course will provide basic knowledge of the Gulf region, analyze current trends and challenges and require critical thinking on implications for the region\u27s future and choices for regional and non-regional policymakers. The course will begin with a brief discussion of the recent history of the Gulf region. The course will then be divided into four sections: (1) politics and governance, (2) economic trends, (3) military, political­ military and nuclear issues and (4) case studies and class presentations. While world leaders focus on the war in Iraq, the challenge of a potential nuclear threat in Iran and the price of oil, the course will cover the political, economic and military trends underlying the current situation and the challenges the region poses for local, regional and world powers. The final few weeks of the course will be devoted to student presentation of their research work and depending on class size/time permitting, case studies of policy issues. Students will actively participate throughout the course. Thus, students need to complete the assigned readings before class and participate actively in its seminar style discussions. Students need to stay abreast of current events in the region and can easily do so by reading any of the major newspapers or magazines regularly, many of which are available on line (New York Times, Washington Post, the Economist, etc.). In addition, students can access websites of the Gulf English language media outlets, as well as the BBC and similar sites