Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS Credits
7POLS 455Gulf Politics3+0+035

Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program BA Program in Political Science and International Relations
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to provide graduate students with a comprehensive understanding of the political, social, and economic dynamics of the region known as the Arab/Persian/Basra or simply the Gulf. Through lectures, readings, and discussions, students will explore the history and development of Gulf politics and examine the region’s contemporary issues and challenges.

During the initial seven weeks of the semester, students will be engaged in a comprehensive learning of fundamental and pivotal aspects of Gulf politics. Afterward, they will be tasked with preparing presentations centered around specific countries within the Gulf region.
Course Content • Develop an understanding of the history and development of Gulf politics.
• Explore the economic, social, and political factors that have shaped Gulf politics.
• Analyze contemporary issues and challenges facing the Gulf region.
• Evaluate the role of external actors in shaping Gulf politics.
• Develop critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze complex political issues.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture-based instruction: Lectures can be used to introduce new concepts and to provide students with a foundation in the key topics of the course. However, it is important to break up lectures with activities and discussion to keep students engaged.
Discussion: Discussion is an essential part of any political science course, and it is especially important in a course on Gulf politics, which is a complex and evolving region. Discussion allows students to share their own perspectives, to learn from each other, and to develop their critical thinking skills.
Case studies: Case studies are a great way to engage students in the material and to help them to understand the complex realities of Gulf politics. Case studies can be used to examine a variety of topics, such as the foreign policy of a particular Gulf state, the process of political reform in the Gulf, or the social and economic challenges facing Gulf states.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof.Dr. İsmail Numan Telci
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Turkish: • İsmail Numan Telci, Körfez Dış Politikası Bağımlılık, Müdahalecilik, Tarafsızlık, Ortadoğu Yayınları, 2022. • İsmal Numan Telci, Gökhan Ereli, Dönüşen Türkiye-Körfez İlişkileri: Krizler, Fırsatlar ve Beklentiler", Ortadoğu Yayınları, 2022. • İsmail Numan Telci, Mehmet Rakipoğlu, “Suudi Arabistan'ın Müslüman Kardeşler Politikası: 1932-2016”, Akademik İncelemeler Dergisi, 2018. • Kemal İnat, Muhittin Ataman, İsmail Numan Telci (ed.), Ortadoğu Yıllığı, Ortadoğu Yayınları, 2023 (2005’ten bu yana yayınlanan çalışmanın Körfez ülkelerine ilişkin bölümleri) • Ahmet Hüsrev Çelik, Körfez Ülkelerinin Savunma Harcamalarının Ekonomi Politiği, Orion Kitabevi, 2023. • Erhan Akkaş, Körfez Bölgesinin Politik Ekonomisi ve Emek Piyasası, İktisat Yayınları, 2023. English: • İsmail Numan Telci and Gökhan Ereli, Investments as Foreign Policy Instruments: The Cases of Saudi Arabia, The UAE and Qatar, ORSAM Analysis, 2021. • İsmail Numan Telci and Tuba Öztürk Horoz, “Competing Policies towar
It will be specified in Canvas.

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 30
Assignment 2 % 20
Attendance 14 % 10
Final examination 1 % 40
Total
18
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 4 56
Assignments 2 5 10
Presentation 1 5 5
Mid-terms 1 5 5
Final examination 1 10 10
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 128

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Understand political, economic and cultural dynamics of the Gulf region.
2 Comprehend the regional and international political importance of the Gulf countries.
3 Enrich their knowledge on the foreign policies of the Gulf countries and their relations with Türkiye


Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction to Gulf Politics • Definition and overview of Gulf politics • Ottoman influence in the Persian Gulf • The historical background of Gulf politics in the post-Ottoman period and the intervention of foreign powers in the region
2 The Role of Oil in Gulf Politics/Political Economy of the Gulf • The significance of oil in the Gulf region • Definition of Rentier Economy and its Effects on the Persian Gulf Region • The Impact of Oil on the Foreign Policies of Gulf Countries
3 State Formation and Political System in the Gulf • State formation and political systems in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. • The Role of monarchies and the impact of political reforms
4 The Arab Spring and its Impact on the Gulf • The Arab Spring and its impact on Gulf politics • The Gulf response to the Arab Spring
5 GCC and Gulf Crises • Formation and evolution of the GCC and its impact on Gulf politics. • Gulf Crises: reasons and outcomes
6 Gulf Security Challenges • Internal security challenges in the Gulf: dependence on oil, regime security, social development, and the challenges faced by the Gulf states. • External security challenges and the role of external actors
7 Foreign Policy of the Gulf States • The foreign policy principles of the Gulf States, the importance of diplomacy types (sports diplomacy, mediation role, etc.) • Relations with regional actors like Turkiye, Iran, Egypt, and Israel. • The role of the US and UK, China, and Russia in the Gulf.
8 Midterm
9 Focus: Qatar
10 Focus: Saudi Arabia
11 Focus: United Arab emirates
12 Focus: Oman
13 Focus: Kuwait
14 Focus: Bahrain


Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7
All 4 5 5 5 4 4 4
C1 5 5 5 4 4 4 5
C2 5 4 4 5 5 5 4
C3 4 4 5 5 4 4 5

Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant


https://obs.ihu.edu.tr/oibs/bologna/progCourseDetails.aspx?curCourse=218321&lang=en