Popular media tends to present the area known as the Middle East as being rife with issues such as political conflict, violence and sectarianism, however there are rich histories and complex social relations underlying the contemporary situations in this diverse area. This class will examine issues such as history, colonialism, religion, political economy and culture to help students develop an understanding of the modern history and unfolding of current events in the region. Concentrating primarily on anthropological literature the class will look at critical issues and topics pertaining to culture, the emergence of various forms of political power in particular contexts, the role of symbols, rituals and ideologies in legitimizing and contesting power, the nature of conflict and violence, the establishment and perpetuation of social inequality, and the character of the modern state and its relations with civil society.

Because this class is being taught online, there are many things that will be different from normal. We will work together to deal with challenges when they occur. We will meet online via ZOOM once a week at the scheduled class time, and I will give you information that would normally be in the lecture and follow up with all of you about your projects. These meetings will be shorter than the normal classes.

If there is anything that you do not understand or you have any concerns, you can always ask me. You can email me anytime at rickard.anthropology@gmail.com (when you email, don’t forget to say who you are!) I will also be maintaining regular office hours at Kumamoto University on the 2nd floor of the Center for International Education, even though the classes are online you can still come and talk to me if you have any concerns.