Course Syllabus

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US, Middle East, and the World

IDH2930 Section 3141 (Class 31116)

T Period 6 (12:50-13:40)

Spring 2022 @ UF Little Hall 117

Course Description

US-Middle East relations emerge from an intriguing history of cultural, commercial, political, and social encounters. The existing literature overlooks the long presence of early American diplomats, merchants, and missionaries in the Middle East. Likewise, the two-way movement of ideas, images, goods, and people have received remarkably little attention.

This reading seminar offers an understanding of little-known exchanges between American agents and the diverse Middle Eastern populations by exploring the history of Muslim images, ideologies, and immigrants in the United States, transatlantic trade networks, and the foundation of American institutions such as colleges, seminaries, and hospitals.

Course Objectives

This course transcends the boundaries of political science, history, and sociology by addressing the interactions between authorities, communities, and movements. It provides instruction in the history, concepts, themes, principles, and some informed perspectives in US involvement in the Middle East.

Students will learn to identify, describe, and explain specific encounters between American and Muslim interactions in the field of diplomacy, commerce, and religion. To accomplish these objectives, students will critically examine: 1- How do individual, political, and social identities affect the larger relations, 2- Why do images, ideologies, and population movements affect the relations the way they do, and 3- To what extent did early encounters reflect and shaped the contemporary US-Middle Eastern relations?

At the end of the course, students will be expected to have achieved the following outcomes in content, analysis, and critical thinking:

  1. Content: Students demonstrate working knowledge and competence in the history, contours, and discourses of US-Middle Eastern relations
  2. Analysis: Students analyze and present ideas, views, and facts in written and oral forms from an interdisciplinary perspective.
  3. Critical Thinking: Students study the existing materials and produce their own perspectives carefully and logically by way of developing context-based interpretations of specific themes and events.

Basic Course Communication Information

Instructor

Emrah Sahin, Ph.D. II emrahsahin@ufl.edu II Turlington Hall # 3326B

Class meetings: (T 12:50pm) II Little Hall 117

Phone (352) 294-7143

Office hours: MW 1-3pm & by  appointment II Sign up here at calendly for f2f-/zoom meetings

Office Hours and Communication

Office hours are 1:00pm-3:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please sign up for a meeting in advance here at calendly for an in person, virtual, or additional appointment. Students are also welcome to contact the instructor by email and on the GroupMe group any time after the first week of classes. For virtual office hours, the link is here (zoom room; id 943 8605 6195.

Additionally, consider joining the class’s GroupMe account here by scanning the code below.

Required Materials and Supplies Fees

The course has no prerequisites. The assignments are a closed reading and engaged classroom discussion of chapters drawn from Michael Oren’s Power, Faith, and Fantasy, regular contributions to a weekly blog to be created by the professor on the course website, and a critical review of a book related to the larger subject matter of the course. Additional readings and recommended materials will be posted on the e-learning website. You may consider reading the book on our canvas page, borrowing the book from our library shelf here, or acquiring an affordable copy of the book from this link. There are no additional fees for the course.

Grading Policies and Grade Scale

This course includes the following assignments along with lecture and discussion sections. Be willing, engaged, and punctual – that is, attend the lectures, participate in discussions, and complete your reading/writing assignments on time. 

Grading in this course takes place within the following parameters.

  • Student work will be graded based on quality and within the point range given below. There will be no curving practices; extra credit may be available for those interested.
    • Grading in this class is consistent with UF policies available here.
  • Assignment Values:
    • Attendance (5/100 points). Attendance will be recorded during meetings and students are expected to attend all the classes except in the case of an emergency.
    • Participation and blog entries (25/100 and 15/100 points). Students will participate the meetings and write blog texts. Further information will be given during the first class meeting.
    • Book review (15/100 points). By Week 6, students will submit a 4-page abstract on another novel of their choice with the approval of the professor.
    • Take-home Final (40/100 points). The final examination will draw from lectures and select readings, and will be due on the last meeting of class. A review class will provide guidelines and address questions about this exam.
    • Please note that all assignments must be completed by the date indicated on the syllabus and will not be rescheduled, or, accepted late. Requests of any special accommodations must be made to the instructor in writing and in advance. Feel free to discuss any of your requirements or assignments with your professor. Additionally, the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as needed during the course of the semester. As much advance warning as possible will be provided to students. Changes can be made to the schedule, assigned reading or other aspects as deemed necessary. No changes will be made to grading scale or core UF policies as noted above.
  • Policy on Late and Make-up Work: Students should contact the instructor for late and make-up work. In case of emergency, instructor must be notified as soon as possible.
  • Grade Return Timing: Instructor will evaluate assigned work in a timely manner; likewise, students can expect to receive grades on mid-term within 10 days and final examination in one week.
  • Point Range for this Class is as follows.

Grading Policy

matrix

Letter Grade

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

F

Numerical Value (% rank)

+94

90

93

87

89

84

86

80

83

77

79

74

76

70

73

67

69

64

66

60

63

-60

GPA Equivalent

4.0

3.67

3.33

3.0

2.67

2.33

2.0

1.67

1.33

1.0

0.67

0

More information on grades and grading policies is here: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx

UF Policies Shaping This Course

This course is aligned with the UF policies below. 

  • Contact Hours:"Contact Hours" refers to the hours per week in which students are in contact with the instructor, excluding office hours or other voluntary contact. The number of contact hours in this course equals the number of credits the course offers.
  • Workload:As a Carnegie I research-intensive university, UF is required by federal law to assign at least 2 hours of work outside of class for every contact hour. Work done in these hours may include reading/viewing assigned material and doing explicitly assigned individual or group work, as well as reviewing notes from class, synthesizing information in advance of exams or papers, and other self-determined study tasks.
  • Accommodation for Student with Disabilities:Students with disabilities who experience learning barriers and would like to request academic accommodations should connect with the disability Resource Center by visiting https://disability.ufl.edu/students/get-started/. This class supports the needs of different learners; it is important for students to share their accommodation letter with their instructor and discuss their access needs as early as possible in the semester.
  • Statement Regarding Evaluations:Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available from the Gatorevals website. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via the evaluation system. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at the public results website.
  • Statement Regarding Course Recording:Our class sessions may be audio visually recorded for students in the class to refer back to, and for use of enrolled students who are unable to attend live. Students who participate with their camera engaged or utilize a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded. If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-mute during class and participate verbally are agreeing to have their voices recorded.  If you are unwilling to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows students to type questions and comments live. The chat will not be recorded or shared. As in all courses, unauthorized recording and unauthorized sharing of recorded materials is prohibited.

Additional Course Policies and Information

The following are additional policies that shape the administration of this course.

Class Attendance and Make-Up Policy

Attendance and participation are required for success. They not only constitute 30% of your grade. Repeated absences also affect your performance on other assignments. Missing class likewise means missing participation and falling behind in other assignments.

According to the Office of the University Registrar, “acceptable reasons for absence from class include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, and professional conferences), military obligation, severe weather conditions, religious holidays and participation in official university activities such as music performances, athletic competition or debate. Absences from class for court-imposed legal obligations (e.g., jury duty or subpoena) must be excused.”

For further information about the University of Florida’s attendance policy, please see the current Undergraduate Catalogue

University Honesty Policy

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” The Honor Code specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor.

Class Demeanor

Students are expected to join class on time and behave in a manner that is respectful to the instructor and to fellow students. Please avoid the use of cell phones and restrict eating during meetings. Opinions held by other students should be respected in discussion, and conversations that do not contribute to the discussion should be held at minimum, if at all.

In-Class Recording

Students are allowed to record video or audio of class lectures. However, the purposes for which these recordings may be used are strictly controlled. The only allowable purposes are (1) for personal educational use, (2) in connection with a complaint to the university, or (3) as evidence in, or in preparation for, a criminal or civil proceeding. All other purposes are prohibited. Specifically, students may not publish recorded lectures without the written consent of the instructor.

A “class lecture” is an educational presentation intended to inform or teach enrolled students about a particular subject, including any instructor-led discussions that form part of the presentation, and delivered by any instructor hired or appointed by the University, or by a guest instructor, as part of a University of Florida course. A class lecture does not include lab sessions, student presentations, clinical presentations such as patient history, academic exercises involving solely student participation, assessments (quizzes, tests, exams), field trips, private conversations between students in the class or between a student and the faculty or lecturer during a class session.

Publication without permission of the instructor is prohibited. To “publish” means to share, transmit, circulate, distribute, or provide access to a recording, regardless of format or medium, to another person (or persons), including but not limited to another student within the same class section. Additionally, a recording, or transcript of a recording, is considered published if it is posted on or uploaded to, in whole or in part, any media platform, including but not limited to social media, book, magazine, newspaper, leaflet, or third party note/tutoring services. A student who publishes a recording without written consent may be subject to a civil cause of action instituted by a person injured by the publication and/or discipline under UF Regulation 4.040 Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code.

Course Evaluation

Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing online evaluations here. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students here.

Additional UF Policies and Resources

Safety and Society 

Dean of Students Office Dean of Students Office (352-392-1261) provides a variety of services to students and families, including Field and Fork (UF’s food pantry) and New Student and Family programs

Multicultural and Diversity Affairs Multicultural and Diversity Affairs (352-294-7850) celebrates and empowers diverse communities and advocates for an inclusive campus.

Office of Student Veteran Services Office of Student Veteran Services (352-294-2948 | vacounselor@ufl.edu) assists student military veterans with access to benefits.

University Police The UF police are together for a safe campus. 392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies) http://www.police.ufl.edu/. 

Health and Wellbeing

Counseling and Wellness Center Counseling and Wellness Center (352-392-1575) provides counseling and support as well as crisis and wellness services including a variety of workshops throughout the semester (e.g., Yappy Hour, Relaxation and Resilience).

Disability Resource Center Disability Resource Center (DRCaccessUF@ufsa.ufl.edu | 352-392-8565) helps to provide an accessible learning environment for all by providing support services and facilitating accommodations, which may vary from course to course. Once registered with DRC, students will receive an accommodation letter that must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodations. Students should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

Student Health Care Center: Call 352-392-1161 for 24/7 information to help you find the care you need, or visit the Student Health Care Center website.

U Matter, We Care: If you or someone you know is in distress, please contact umatter@ufl.edu, 352-392-1575, or visit U Matter, We Care website to refer or report a concern and a team member will reach out to the student in distress.

UF Health Shands Emergency Room / Trauma Center: For immediate medical care call 352-733-0111 or go to the emergency room at 1515 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608; Visit the UF Health Emergency Room and Trauma Center website.

Academic/Professional

Career Connections Center Career Connections Center (352-392-1601 | CareerCenterMarketing@ufsa.ufl.edu) connects job seekers with employers and offers guidance to enrich your collegiate experience and prepare you for life after graduation.

Official Sources of Rules and Regulations: The official source of rules and regulations for UF students is the Undergraduate Catalog and Graduate Catalog. Quick links to other information have also been provided below.

ONE.UF ONE.UF is the home of all the student self-service applications, including access to:

Learning and Technology

E-learning technical support: Contact the UF Computing Help Desk at 352-392-4357 or via e-mail at helpdesk@ufl.edu.

Career Connections Center: Reitz Union Suite 1300, 352-392-1601. Career assistance and counseling services.

Library Support: Various ways to receive assistance with respect to using the libraries or finding resources.

Teaching Center: Broward Hall, 352-392-2010 or to make an appointment 352- 392-6420. General study skills and tutoring.

Writing Studio: 2215 Turlington Hall, 352-846-1138. Help brainstorming, formatting, and writing papers.

Student Complaints On-Campus: Visit the Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code webpage for more information.

On-Line Students Complaints: View the Distance Learning Student Complaint Process.

Course Schedule

Week 1 (January 11) Course Mechanics and Introduction

  • Mead, “American Foreign Policy Tradition,” pp. 3-28

Week 2 (January 18)

  • Main Text (MT): Oren, Power, Faith and Fantasy, pp. 3-50

** Blog discussions start this week **

Week 3 (January 25)

  • MT, 51-100

Week 4 (February 1)

  • MT, 101-148

Week 5 (February 8)

  • Book-review discussion

Week 6 (February 15)

  • MT, 149-189

** Book-review submission **

Week 7 (February 22)

  • MT, 190-245

Week 8 (March 1)

  • MT, 246-324

Week 9 (March 15)

  • MT, 325-406

Week 10 (March 22)

  • MT, 407-445

Week 11 (March 29)

  • MT, 446-504

Week 12 (April 5)

  • MT, 505-549

Week 13 (April 12)

  • MT, 550-612

** Take-home instructions available; exam due Week 14 **

Week 14 (April 19) Final Submission and Concluding Remarks

Sources for Further Study and Book Review (Emrah has more)

Podcast: Middle East/Ottoman History

Fromkin, David. A Peace to End All Peace

Grabill, Joseph. Protestant Diplomacy and the Near East.

Hansen, Suzy. Notes on a Foreign Country

Jacobs, Matt. Imagining the Middle East

Kinzer, Stephen. All the Shah’s Men

Lewis, Bernard. What Went Wrong?

Makdisi, Ussama. Artillery of Heaven

Mamdani, Mahmood. Good Muslim, Bad Muslim

Sahin, Emrah. Faithful Encounters 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due