Undergraduate Seminar (398-0-81)

Topic

Media & Politics in Arab World

Instructors

Khaled Al Hroub

Meeting Info

Northwestern Qatar Room 2-257: Tues, Su 2:30PM - 3:45PM (AST)

Overview of class

"The course engages with the debates over the role of the media since the emergence of the independent Arab states in the first half of the 20th century through present time, and up until the influence of the media during and after the Arab Spring. Between these two time ends, the media has been part of broader processes of nation-building, ruling-elites consolidation, identity-creation and dismantling, as well as a crucial means of political opposition. The course examines how emerging states and governments in the region have used and manipulated the media for decades in their sustained effort to construct distinctive national identities. Thematically, the course covers a spectrum of topics including loyalist media and their role in supporting political status quo, oppositional and ideological media, the politics of private-owned media, media and political change, media and foreign policy, media and social change, media and religion, and the politics and influence of foreign media and off-shore Arab media. A considerable space and discussion is also devoted to transnational broadcasting media pioneered by AlJazeera in 1996. A similar focus is given to the emergence of social media along with youth activism in relation with raising the ceiling of free speech and creating spaces for political debates and criticism in the
region."

Registration Requirements

Prerequisites: None

Open to Sophomores and above

Open for cross registration

Satisfies Media and Politics Minor & Middle East Studies Minor

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for sophomore, juniors, and seniors only.