Welcome to Clement Henry's course on
"Arab-Israeli" politics. The politics of the conlfict and the peace
process operate on several levels:
between Palestinians and Israelis in Palestine/Israel, over a
number of central issues
between the state of Israel and various Arab states in the
region - and Iran, too.
between powerful states outside the region still competing
since the end of the Cold War for influence in the region
within the American community, divided over the nature of our
commitment to Israel and how to reconcile it with other national
interests
within the Israeli body politic, divided over issues of war
and peace with their Arab neighbors
between Arab states and within the various Palestinian
communities, divided over their relationships with Israel.
Some of these conflicts may divide you as well as the Middle
Eastern protagonists, and we will be conducting a constant discussion
in class and over the Internet (chat). You will be expected to
develop an empathetic understanding of the protagonists, whatever
your own views on the various issues may be. You will learn not only
the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict but also detect "bias" or
"spins" in historical narratives and in the daily press, whether in
the form of "news" reports or
editorial opinion. You will deepen your own appreciation of some of
the moral dilemmas underlying political choices by acting out an
international conference focusing on the issues dividing Israelis,
Syrians, and Palestinians --learning by doing, playing your own role
profiles of the principle actors, based on current events.
