Courses: Department of Central Eurasian Studies

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Contemporary Turkey: Society, Culture and Politics
Catalog Number CEUS-U 320/520
Cigdem Balim

Pre - requisites: none

The course is structured around in depth reading about and discussion of major issues in Turkey from 1970s to date. These issues concern domestic politics and foreign policy; international relations; social structure and relations including gender issues and challenges of modernity; culture (including language, religion, education and communications); migration and transnational Turkish communities.

Introductory lectures of the course will dwell on the following topics: From Inner Asia to the Middle East and the Balkans; Seljuks and other dynasties; the Ottomans; Ottomans in the 18^th/19^th centuries: modernization; 19^th and early 20^th centuries: wars and migrations; Turkish Republic and modernization: development of the nation state.

Students will read about and have a chance to discuss in class various issues concerning contemporary Turkey including:

- Economy: from state control to liberalization
- Religion: state, society and religion
- Islam and economy
- Status of women
- Education
- Political parties
- Political Islam?
- Armed Forces
- Minorities and minority rights
- Language and politics
- Media
- Health, Social Security and Environment
- Issues in Foreign Policy (including relations with USA)
- Turkic speaking peoples of the world (after 1990) and their relations with Turkey
- European Union and Turkey
- Turkish transnational communities

Assessment:

Undergraduate

Class attendance and contribution to discussions:          10%

One oral presentation with bibliography and outline:       15%

One 5,000 word essay                                                 :75 % (due on the final day of classes)

Graduate

Two oral presentations with bibliography and outline:     20%

One 7,000 word essay                                                 :80% (due on the final day of classes)

On completion of the course the students should

* have an understanding of the main trends and arguments in contemporary Turkish politics, economy, international relations, culture and society
* be able to collect, reflect on and use information from a variety of sources
* be able to plan and write essays based on independent research
* be able to plan and deliver oral presentations based on independent research