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PSCI 257Introduction to Middle East Politics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Political Science

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course introduces students to the Middle East, a region with distinctive history, vivid cultures, and complex politics. Yet, it presents a unique case of misrepresentation and misapprehension. Students will gain an understanding of the Middle East's enduring foreign interventions, unsettled conflicts, and crises of social injustice. Students will critically examine several key questions related to power dynamics and politics and the impact of these politics on people of the region. Through a variety of reflective assignments and engaging class discussions, students will utilize course materials to articulate critical perspectives on the historical and contemporary political developments in the Middle East including military and political conflicts, crises of displacements and statelessness, and forms of resilience.

Prerequisites

  • Students must be in level 2A or higher

Antirequisites

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

100% liked it60% easy95% useful

From 19 ratings and 6 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Taught by PhD student Mohamed Soufan. Genuinely one of the most interesting courses I have taken so far at UW. Moe was an amazing instructor who was super down to Earth and wanted to see students succeed. Kind of a mix between political science and history imo, but the classes were very engaging. Only had to complete around 4 assignments the whole term including a final essay, and marking was fairly light. Amazing course that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in geopolitics or history.

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very useful in understanding effects of history on modern Middle Eastern politics. Discussion based classes.

    Oct 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Amazing course. Everyone should take this.

    Jun 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Amazing class and extremely informative. The mid-term was really hard, and the essay was interesting to write. Professor was one of the best i've ever had

    Jul 2018 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very interesting.

    Jun 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

14 posts and comments in 12 threads mention PSCI 257, March 2014 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2022

CS students, what courses have you taken each term 9 points, 21 comments

“Inspired by https://www.reddit.com/r/uwaterloo/comments/v3b8nj/can\any\current\mathcs\students\let\me\know\their/ but recognizing that one term is a very narrow view, What courses have you taken each …”

u/astroturfer1984: “1a: cs 135, math 135, math 137, engl 109, fr 192a 1b: cs 136, math 146, math 138, psci 150, engl 208b 2a: cs 246, cs 245, stat 230, psci 257, engl 306a coop 1: cs 240 2b: cs 241, math 239, cs 251, stat 241 3a: undecided”

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Winter 2022

Start-of-the-term mentality... 17 points, 3 comments

“I don't know if it's because the school/gov click baited us into thinking this term would be online or if it's because I'm not really excited for any of my courses this term (they're all meh ig, but …”

u/solder_code_drink: “History of the modern middle east, psci 257 with Dr Momani was one of my favourite courses. Maybe look into that ? theres also a course on just straight up history of southeast asia. Taking that this term.”

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Fall 2021

Spring 2021

Spring 2019

Spring 2018

Winter 2018

Spring courses 6 points, 11 comments

u/realisticstudent: “http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocour/CIR/SA/uwpcshtm.html Look for the keyword 'block'. Seems like only PSCI 257/HIST 230 Introduction to Middle East for spring.”

u/hotoutthekitchen: “PSCI 257: Intro to the Modern Middle East runs until June 8th, if you're interested in a course in the arts faculty!!”

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Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… PMATH 990 PORT 101 PS 611 PS 614 PS 621 PS 624 PS 625 PSCI 100 PSCI 231 PSCI 252 PSCI 255 PSCI 257 PSCI 263W PSCI 282 PSCI 299 PSCI 324 PSCI 331 PSCI 353 PSCI 360 PSCI 385 PSCI 389 PSCI 402 PSCI 423 PSCI 428 PSCI 456 PSCI 461 PSCI 492 PSCI 497A PSCI 497B PSCI 498A PSCI 498B PSCI …”

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Spring 2017

Winter 2017

Spring 2016

Political Science courses selection 1 point, 3 comments

u/darwinbitch: “Has anyone taken PSCI 231, 257, 283, 334 or any other PSCI course. I'm a bio student with minimal knowledge in political science, I got interested in political science and was wondering if any of the listed courses are considered bird or (interesting at least!).”

u/Laeriana: “I've just finished up taking PSCI 257 myself! I enjoyed the course, and I personally found it to be very engaging. …”

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Winter 2014

Block Courses 0 points, 2 comments

“I am looking to take a block course in the Spring term (a shorter, more intensive course). Does anyone have any experiences with these courses? What was the workload like? …”

u/shhyfz: “which course?”

u/lonegun_men: “I am not looking to find out information about a particular course, although I am looking within the Arts faculty. There are quite a few block PSCI and SOC courses running in the Spring including PSCI 254, 257 and SOC 246 and 349.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar