This course is designed to introduce you to the international politics of the Middle East and therefore, provides a general overview of some of the main issues of contemporary Middle Eastern politics. As a result, we will examine the interplay of numerous factors that help us to better understand and to critically analyze the politics of the Middle East. These factors include the impact of colonialism, nationalism and nation-state formation, regional crises, the Arab-Israeli conflict, political economy, and the influence of superpowers in the region.