Courses

Before joining the faculty at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2009, Professor Gerges had taught at Oxford, Harvard and Columbia universities and was a research fellow at Princeton University. From 1994, he held the Christian A. Johnson Chair in Middle Eastern Studies and International Affairs at Sarah Lawrence College, where he taught a variety of seminars on international affairs and the Middle East. He now teaches Middle Eastern Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics. The following is a list of the current course(s) he is teaching, followed by a few of the courses he has taught in the past. For course descriptions, if available, click on the course title.

Current Courses

Previous Courses

The International Relations of the Middle East

The course has several objectives: A) to provide students with an introductory analysis of the International Relations of Middle Eastern politics since 1918 and the historical evolution of the international system; B) to give students a grounding in the development of the International Relations in the modern Middle East and to enable them to relate the course of events to analytic issues in the study of International Relations; C) to train students to think conceptually and provide them with an understanding of how IR approaches and frameworks help make sense of developments in the Middle East; D) to familiarize students with linkages between domestic politics and international relations and foreign policy and how regional dynamics and developments interact with problems of international security, global resources and great power/ superpower / hyperpower policies; E) To enable students to read, discuss and write in a clear and critical manner, to explain and analyse the International Relations of Middle Eastern and external actors, and to provide informed, succinct and critical analysis of issues raised by the international politics of the region.

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Profiles of Islamic Revolutionaries

This seminar examines the ideas and lives of leading Islamist (jihadist) revolutionaries who have left their imprint on Muslim society and politics in the 20th century. They have also have inspired young Muslim men and women to use religion as a political tool to bring about radical change in state and society. These revolutionaries--Abdu, Sayyid Qutub, Mawdudi, Khomeini, and others--have supplied the ammunition and arguments for dissatisfied and alienated young men to rebel against the existing sociopolitical order at home and its great powers patron. In this context, the Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, may be seen as just a recent inheritor of a powerful tradition of political-religious rebellion. Several critical questions will be posited: What are the religious, intellectual, and historical roots of revolutionary jihadism? What fuels its passion and rage? What is the relative weight of religion in relation to other sociopolitical and economic variables? What is the role and impact of charisma in enabling certain individuals to reclaim and fertilize religion and revolution to establish Allah's kingdom on earth? Special attention will be given to certain powerful texts, which have served as holy writ for dedicated foot soldiers as well as to their views and theories about the status of women, the nature of the state, the use of violence, human rights, and relations with the West broadly defined.

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Empires to Nations: Inventing the Modern Middle East

Most of the states in the modern Middle East were born out of the rubble of World War I and the destruction of the great empires. Britain and France not only divided the vast territories of the Ottoman Empire between themselves but also drew the map of the modern Middle East by reorganizing the old political structures along nation-states. This course will examine the complex sociopolitical, religious, and cultural dynamics and external forces that have shaped life in the region, as well as the dominant political ideologiesÑpan-nationalism, Islamism, Arab socialism. It will begin with a survey of the modern Middle East (geography, people, religions, major countries, and international relations) and emphasize the close linkage and interlay between domestic, regional, and international processes. Special attention will be paid to the rise of European hegemony after WWI and the response of social groups to the cultural, economic, and political influence of the West. For example, why have some countries developed democratic institutions, while others have become increasingly dictatorial, espousing a form of secular authoritarianism, and yet others have sought to define their politics in terms of Islamic activism? What are the causes and consequences of the five Arab-Israeli wars on political governance, economic development, and relations between state and society? What does explain the rise and consolidation of military rule? And what are the repercussions of continuing Western meddling in the region's internal affairs? This course will not only assess the role of the West in forging the region's modern history but also the input of indigenous forces, such as secular nationalism and religion. We will study the diverse societies and regime type of the major states--Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia--in an effort to understand why some countries have succeeded in developing democratic forms of government, while others have become increasingly dictatorial. The seminar will also address the question of reform and change. How and where will reform come from in light of the unholy alliance between authoritarian rulers and the reactionary religious establishment? What role does the dominant international political and economic order play in perpetuating the status quo in the Middle East?

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American Foreign Policy in the Middle East

When the dust settled after World War II, the United States emerged not only as one of the two most powerful nations in the international system but also, by far, as one of the most respected great powers in the Middle East. America was seen as a progressive island in a sea of European reaction. The dominant question then was, "why do they like us so much?" not "why do they hate us so much?" What went wrong with U.S.-Muslim relations in the second part of the 20th century? Why has the initial promising encounter between the United States and the world of Islam turned sour? What lies at the heart of the dramatic shift in American foreign policy and Arabs/Muslims' perceptions as well? To what extent has the United States inherited the colonial legacy of its European allies? Or to what extent has the United States become a scapegoat for most of the ills that have befallen the world of Islam in the last 50 years?

This seminar will examine the forces behind the rise of the United States to world power status and the critical consequences of WWII that impelled U.S. leaders to play a leading role in international politics. Throughout the seminar, we will consider the linkages between domestic politics and foreign policy, the role of ideology and political culture and the effects on American life of the U.S. rise to world power status. Open to all interested students.

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Arab Politics in the Age of Dictators

This yearlong seminar will examine the complex dynamics of Arab politics since the establishment of the contemporary Middle Eastern state in the early 1920s. Most of these states were born out of the ruble of World War I and the destruction of the great empires. Britain and France not only divided the vast territories of the Ottoman Empire between themselves but also drew the political map of the modern Middle East by reorganizing the old political structures along nation-states. This course will focus on the internal dynamics - socio-political, religious, and cultural forces - as well as on external forces, which have shaped life in the region. In other words, the seminar will not only assess the role of the West in forging the region's modern history but also the input of the indigenous forces, such as the interplay between secular nationalism and Islam. Special attention will be paid to the rise of European hegemony after World War I and the response of social and religious groups to the cultural, economic, and political influence of the West. For example, why have some countries developed democratic institutions, while others have become increasingly dictatorial, espousing a form of secular authoritarianism, and yet others have sought to define their politics in terms of Islamic activism? What have been the causes and consequences of the five Arab-Israeli wars on political governance, economic development, and relations between state and society? What does explain the lack of political legitimacy and the absence of democracy in the Arab Middle East? What does explain the rise of military rule and the cult of personality? What lies at heart of the longevity and durability of Arab dictatorships? What are the repercussions and costs of political oppression? How does the existence of a vacuum of legitimate authority manifest itself? And what are the consequences of continuing Western meddling in the region's internal affairs? Can we understand the prolonged turmoil and upheaval in Arab politics in the twentieth century without delving deeper into the internal structure of Arab societies and Arab political culture as well?

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Conflict and Peacemaking in International Affairs (Joint Seminar with Jefferson Adams)

The question of war or peace--a long-standing concern of students and practitioners of statecraft alike--continues to dominate contemporary world affairs. We will approach this vital subject with a twofold objective: One is to gain an historical perspective by examining key events and developments since the emergence of the modern state; the other is to provide a comparative framework in order to assess various historical and cultural traditions throughout the world. In the first semester we will examine the European foundations of diplomacy and strategy--notably the Westphalian state system that emerged after 1648--and then turn to areas of the non-Western world to examine indigenous traditions as well as the impact of colonialism. In the second semester the rise of the twentieth-century superpowers, the development of nuclear warfare, and the advent of international terrorism will be major areas of investigation. We will conclude by looking at various contemporary debates about the future of world affairs. Will, for example, the "clash of civilizations," rather than interstate relations, constitute the driving force of international conflict? Readings will attempt to balance individual case studies with larger conceptual formulations and will be drawn from a variety of sources, including memoirs, novels, and philosophical texts. In addition, documentary films and visiting speakers will be important supplements to the seminar discussions. For conference, students are encouraged to choose from a wide range of topics; the option of a joint project with another student is also available. Open to any interested student.

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