School of Government & International Affairs | MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East

MA Politics & International Relations of the Middle East at Durham University

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Explore the changing face of global power and interrogate the regional and global forces that shape state behaviour across the Middle Eastern and North African region.

Immerse yourself in debates about international politics, international organisations and how they influence relationships between nations. The MA in Politics & International Relations of the Middle East will equip you with the skills to challenge conventional thinking and analyse your own views about some of the present-day challenges in the Middle East and North African region.

The course provides a rigorous, research-driven, interdisciplinary approach to studying the contemporary Middle East & North Africa (MENA). It aims to provide advanced knowledge and understanding of the dynamics – including cultural and local political and ideological factors – which shape the contemporary international relations of the region. You will learn to evaluate concepts, theories, and paradigms, drawing lessons from real-world studies informed by rigorous qualitative investigations and an exploration of the underlying ethical issues. The MA draws on the research and teaching strengths of our Institute for Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies (IMEIS) and the wider School of Government & International Affairs.

Your learning will be informed by a wealth of ongoing research by experts working at the forefront of their field. Core modules in the International Politics of the Middle East, the Non-Arab States of the Middle East and Researching the Global South form the foundation of the course. The remaining modules can be tailored to suit your interests, with options spanning topics from Global Governance to Ideologies and Political Thought. You can also choose to explore a contrasting region of the world in greater depth or study Arabic. These interests can be further developed through the researching and writing of the dissertation.

On completion, graduates are well placed to pursue careers in international and non-governmental organisations, politics, and the civil service. Others move into the wider fields of journalism, teaching, business, and research.

Our postgraduates achieve successful careers in a wide range of fields including local and national government, diplomacy, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces.

Former postgraduate students have taken up roles with leading employers including the House of Commons, Clifford Chance, Accenture, British Airways, Ernst and Young, British Telecom, Goldman Sachs, PwC, the Royal Navy, House of Fraser, Channel 4, HSBC, Teach First, Durham University, Black Rock and the Audit Commission.

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