INTL2425 · International Studies
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
This course is an introduction to democratization in the Middle East, using social science literatures on regime type (e.g. democratic, authoritarian, totalitarian, hybrid) to explore how history, geopolitics, and leadership shape comparative experiences of democratization in the region. The course considers democratization patterns shaped by disputes over tradeoffs between security versus pluralism and equality before the state, tensions between economic equity and growth, and competition between religious versus secular forms of nationalism. Through case studies (e.g. Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Syria) and engagement with regional and international scholar-practitioners, the course situates the region within current debates about democracy worldwide.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.4 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.4 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.6 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.7 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
—
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Spring 2025
1 sectionSpring 2024
1 section