The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Do not take this course if you previously taken this course under the name "The Arab-Israeli Conflict". This course is class-restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza, and U.S. attempts to successfully negotiate a resolution are only the latest chapters in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The broader struggle, which involves not just Israelis and Palestinians, but also regional states like Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, has been at the core of Middle East politics over the past century. This course will address the origins, dynamics, and effectiveness of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism, the causes of war and peace, and changes in territorial and political control of the region from the early 1900s to the present. Students will learn and analyze the perspectives and behaviors of state and non-state actors on all sides to gain a greater appreciation for a struggle that continues to drive regional dynamics and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. By the conclusion of the course, students will emerge not only with a far richer understanding of the region, its people, and its politics, but also as more sophisticated consumers, analysts, and producers of knowledge. Whatever your background and perspective, you are welcome in this course. You will always be evaluated based on the quality of your effort and performance--not on your political sympathies. Personal attacks and bigoted language are not accepted, but you should be prepared to have your thinking constantly challenged by me and others in the class. The constructive conversations that we have throughout the course will make you a much more knowledgeable and empathetic observer of the region regardless of the extent to which you want to learn and/or advocate thereafter.