The purpose of this course is to provide the students with a comprehensive introduction to the politics of the modern Middle East.  It aims to discuss the state-society dynamics as well as regional and international politics of the region.  For that purpose we will refer, among other issues, to the characteristics of state formation, the nature of the region’s political economy, the form and the nature of opposition movements and revolutions in the region, the role of political Islam, and regional conflicts, wars and peace making.  The course will cover the Arab world, Iran and Israel.