[liberationtech] Arab Spring Class This Fall at Stanford University

[Yosem Companys]

From: Emad Mekay <emekay at stanford.edu>

Dear All,****

 ****

Please excuse the group email, but I just wanted to share with you
information about my new class this fall at Stanford University. Please
feel free to share it with students, faculty, researchers and anyone with
interest in the Middle East.****


After a year as a Knight Fellow at Stanford, I will be teaching a new class
this year about the Arab Spring. The course will serve as an introduction
to the events of the Arab Spring. One of the reasons many Western
institutions, including the media, may have failed to predict the Arab
Spring in time is that they are hampered by many stereotypes and clichés
about the Middle East generated in part by   -well yes - my fellow media
professionals.****


In this class, students will draw lessons on how not to approach
international relations with pre-conceived ideas and find their own sources
to understand the events that are re-shaping the Middle East.  I will draw
on my extensive coverage of those events. We'll talk about issues such as
how the Arab media is resisting revolutions, the future of Islamist
movements, street protest tactics against police states, the role played by
women in the wave of revolutions, business and economy under Islamist
government and the myth of the Arab Spring being invented by Facebook among
other issues.****


Students will learn to take more advanced investigations into the Arab
region and U.S. institutions working there.****


The lectures will be both a place for student to get some exposure to
first-hand information on what really happened before and after the wave of
revolutions that swept new political players to power in the Middle East.
Students will be introduced to major political players in countries of the
Arab Spring through guest speaker events, conversations with people who
took part in the events as well as class discussions and research. The goal
is to instill confidence in students in their ability to find their own
sources and information about the region to prepare them to offer
authoritative explanation and understanding of the future of the Arab
Spring countries.****


We’ll be meeting Mondays and Wednesdays. 10:00AM-11:50AM. Encina West Rm
106. Course starts Sept. 24-Dec. 7, 2012****


I am also attaching a flyer.* Let me know if you have any questions.****


Best,****

Emad****


* Flyer below:


International Relations, Fall 2012 course, Stanford University.


Mon, Wed 10:00AM-11:50AM at Encina West 106 (Sept. 24--Dec. 7, 2012)


DECODING THE ARAB SPRING AND THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST

INTNLREL151


(with Emad Mekay)


The course will explore themes such as: the issues that forged the identity
of the Arab Spring; common features among the Arab Spring countries; mechanisms
of street protests against police states, history and current relationship
between the military and new political powers; secularists Vs. Islamists; why
the Islamists are winning in public polls and scenarios for the Middle
East.


All students at all levels are welcome.
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