THE FACULTY OF ORIENTAL STUDIES
M.PHIL. IN MODERN MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES: HANDBOOK*
Course director: Dr Walter Armbrust
DATES OF FULL TERM 2014-15
Michaelmas Term 11 October - 5 December 2015 Hilary Term 17 January - 12 March 2016 Trinity Term 24 April - 18 June 2016
OBJECTIVES
The course aims:
1. to provide intensive training in a Middle Eastern language and to develop reading skills to attain a research proficiency;
2. to provide a common foundation in the methods and disciplines relevant to the study of the Middle East;
3. to provide intensive training in three fields of knowledge based on a combination of lectures, tutorials and essay writing;
4. to develop research and writing skills, with training in appropriate theoretical and methodological approaches, through supervision of a thesis on a subject of the student’s choice.
All students are required to study a modern Middle Eastern language as an integral part of their course. Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Turkish are all available at the introductory level. Students with an intermediate knowledge of all four languages, subject to a placement test, can take Advanced Arabic, Advanced Persian, Advanced Hebrew or Advanced Turkish in lieu of the introductory level; otherwise they will be required to take another language at the introductory level.
The intensive nature of the language study and the strong emphasis on essay writing for tutorials are perhaps the distinguishing feature of this course. These features are characteristic of Oxford education and they provide an important rigour and depth of training in this field.
TEACHING STAFF
Dr. Walter Armbrust, St. Antony’s College, Associate Professor in Modern Middle Eastern Studies
Professor Marilyn Booth, Khalid bin 'Abdullah Al-Sa'ud Professor for the Study of the Contemporary Arab World
Dr Stephanie Cronin, Departmental Lecturer in Persian Studies, Oriental Institute
Professor Edmund Herzig, Wadham College, Soudavar Professor of Persian Studies
Dr Adeel Malik, Department of International Development and Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Islamic Centre Lecturer in Development Economics
Dr Toby Matthiesen, Senior Research Fellow in the International Relations of the Middle East, St Antony’s College.
Dr James McDougall, Department of History, University Lecturer in 20th Century History (on leave 2014-2017)
Dr Laurent Mignon, St Antony’s College, Lecturer in Turkish
Professor Derek Penslar, Department of Politics and International Relations, Professor of Israel Studies
Professor Tariq Ramadan, St Antony's College, Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies
Dr Philip Robins, St Antony’s College, University Reader in Middle East Politics
Dr Eugene Rogan, St Antony’s College, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History
Dr Ahmad al-Shahi, St Antony’s College, Senior Associate Member in Anthropology
Professor Avi Shlaim, St Antony’s College, Emeritus Professor of International Relations
Dr Noa Schonmann, Department of Politics and International Relations, Departmental Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
Dr Michael Willis, St Antony’s College, King Muhammad VI Fellow in Moroccan and Mediterranean Studies (on leave 2015-2016)
COURSE CONTENT
In thefirst two terms, all students receive intensive language training designed to cover the fundamentals of grammar in their chosen Middle Eastern language, or the finer points of language competence in the case of one of the Advanced-level options. The number of hours per week varies from one language to another, ranging from five to twelve hours in class and language laboratory.
All students are required to participate in the M.Phil. Seminar, “The Modern Middle East” in Michaelmas Term. Theseminarmeets weekly in term time and is presented each week by a different member of the teaching staff. A reading list is distributed at the start of term providing the required readings and essay topics for each meeting. Students are required to prepare in advance of each weekly meeting for assessment by the teacher who is presenting that particular session. The seminar is an interactive forum in which students are asked to present their arguments and to respond to each other’s work.
In addition to the M.Phil. seminar all students are encouraged to attendlecturesand
seminarsoffered by the members of the teaching staff during the first term. A full list of lectures is published by each faculty and may be collected in the week before term either from your college Porter’s Lodge or the respective faculty offices. Lecture lists are also available online (http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/lectures/). Those lists most relevant to modern Middle Eastern studies are: Oriental Studies; Social Studies; Anthropology and Geography.
In thesecond term, in consultation with theirUniversity Supervisor, students will arrange a series oftutorialsfor one of three options to be offered for theFinal Examination. Tutorials typically involve eight weekly meetings of up to one hour and six essays, to be arranged between the tutor and the student. Students should complete all of their essays for the option by the end of the term. Most options have an associated lecture series which students are expected to attend for each of their options.
At the end of the second term, students sit theQualifying Examination.
In thethird term, students will continue with their language training for a minimum of five hours per week. Students will arrange a series of tutorials for the second of their three options.
Also in consultation with their University Supervisor, students will begin to define theirthesistopics. Each will meet with members of staff whose teaching interests are closest to the student’s proposed subject of thesis research, to help the student in choosing athesis supervisor. It is quite common for students to have different University and thesis supervisors. Students will be expected to do a full bibliographic search as part of the definition of their thesis topic, and to have begun reading the relevant secondary sources.
Students will be expected to continue attending all relevant lectures, seminars and classes offered by the members of staff.
The Long Vacation, which covers the summer months (end of June to early October), is of great importance to the course. Students are strongly urged to pursue intensive language training in an appropriate course in the region, where political circumstances permit. Information on the different courses in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Turkish may be obtained from the relevant language instructors in the first instance, in consultation with supervisors. Students are also encouraged to take the opportunity provided by study abroad to conduct research for their theses in the region.
The Faculty of Oriental Studies usually makes grants available to students to assist them in meeting the cost of travel and fees for language courses in the Middle East. Application for these grants has to be made by the end ofThird Weekof term on a special form obtainable in the faculty offices.
In theirfourth term(i.e. the first term of their second year), students will continue with their language training for a minimum of five hours per week.
In consultation with their University Supervisor, students will arrange a series of tutorials for the third of three options to be offered for the Final Examination. Students should complete all of their essays for the option by the end of the term. In consultation with their thesis supervisor, students will consolidate their research from the previous term and the long vacation. Research and writing of the thesis should continue over the Christmas Vacation.
In theirfifth term, students will continue with language training for a minimum of five hours per week. They will present their research findings to their peers and faculty in the MPhil Research Seminar. This seminar is attended by all candidates for the M.Phil. M.Phil. presentations normally take 40 minutes with 20 minutes question time. The seminar has a number of specific aims: to foster a lively discussion of student research in progress; to assist candidates in the completion of their written work; to develop students’ oral presentation skills.
Draft chapters of the thesis should be submitted to the thesis supervisor for comment. A complete draft of the thesis, incorporating the supervisor’s comments, should be ready for the supervisor’s final assessment by the end of the term. Students should make final revision to their theses over the Easter Vacation.
In thesixth termstudents submit bound copies of their theses for examination by the Friday of the second week of term. Students will undertake revision in their language and three options in preparation for the Final Examination, which in recent years has been held in the ninth week of the term.
TEACHING METHODS
Tutorials are the stock in trade of an Oxford education, and the backbone of the teaching for the M.Phil. Each of theoptionspresented below represents a course of eight tutorials. Typically, the tutor is a member of the teaching staff who meets with students in the tutor’s office individually or in pairs or small groups for a teaching session of one hour’s duration. The student is required to present an essay based on a set of readings and an essay question arranged with the tutor in advance. The manner of conducting tutorials varies from tutor to tutor: some tutors request students to hand in their essays in advance for discussion in tutorial, while others ask students to read their essay out loud in tutorial, with discussion to follow. Attendance and completion of the assignment are strictly required.
Classes are interactive groups in which a member of the teaching staff instructs between 3-10 students. Most language training is done in classes. Attendance is required, and all assignments are to be handed in to the instructor for assessment. Lectures are open to the University public. Normally, a member of the teaching staff presents a series of eight weekly lectures grouped around a topic of relevance to one of the course options, e.g. ‘The Politics of the Middle East’ or ‘Social Anthropology of the Middle East.’ They tend not to be interactive, though some lecturers invite questions at the end of their presentation. Attendance is optional, and there are no required readings or assignments. However, students are strongly encouraged to attend all of the lectures in a series to broaden their general knowledge of the subject. Seminars take two forms. Some are closer to classes, in the sense of being an
interactive group with required attendance and assignments, such as the
M.Phil.opening seminar, ‘The Modern Middle East.’ Others are closer to lectures, in the sense of being open to the public and organised around a theme. The Middle East Centre hosts a weekly seminar on a topic of general interest each term. What both forms share in common is that they are organised by a convenor and tend to bring a different speaker each week.
SUPERVISION
Each student is assigned a University Supervisor before coming up to Oxford. The University Supervisor is the person of first reference for all academic matters. Students should discuss their choice ofoptionsand ofthesistopics with their University Supervisor, who is also responsible for helping students to arrange meetings with potential tutors. University Supervisors follow students’ progress closely, obtain reports on their performance from their tutors and instructors at the end of each term, and are required to submit a brief termly report on their progress to the university. Students should meet with their Supervisor before each term to discuss what they are expected to accomplish during that term, and should arrange a meeting at the end of the term for a progress report. Of course students are also encouraged to meet with their University Supervisor during the term as necessary. University Supervisors are often required to sign forms for you, and are available to write references.
While students have their University Supervisor assigned to them, they choose their thesis supervisor as the member of academic staff best able to oversee the research and writing of a given research topic. Students are advised to consult with their University Supervisor and meet with a number of members of staff to discuss their interests before deciding on a topic and thesis supervisor. Students are entitled to eight tutorials with their thesis supervisor on the research and writing of their thesis. Generally, thesis supervisors read one draft of each chapter for comments and then read a completed draft of the thesis, with revisions incorporating the thesis
supervisor’s comments. It is not reasonable to expect your thesis supervisor to read several drafts of the same chapter.
OPTIONS*
Students have to choose three from a list of available options (“papers”). Those normally available are shown below with the names of the tutors who teach each subject. Note that in any given year some options may not be available due to sabbatical and research leave of Faculty members. The course coordinator will circulate an up-to-date list of available options at the beginning of each year.
1. History of the Middle East, 1860-1970 (Eugene Rogan) 2. Politics of the Middle East (Philip Robins)
3. Social Anthropology of the Middle East (Walter Armbrust) 4. International Relations of the Middle East (Toby Matthiesen)
5. Iranian History from the Constitutional to the Islamic Revolution, 1905-1979 (Stephanie Cronin)
6. History of Turkey, 1908-80 (Laurent Mignon and Philip Robins)
7. History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1979-2005 (Edmund Herzig)
8. Politics of the Maghreb (Michael Willis) 9. The Maghreb since 1830 (James McDougall) 10. Israel: History, Politics and Society (Derek Penslar)
11. The Political Economy of the Middle East and North Africa (Adeel Malik) 12. Political Islam, Islamism, and Modern Islamic Movements (Tariq
Ramadan)
13. Islam in the West (Tariq Ramadan)
14. Contemporary Islamic Ethics (Tariq Ramadan)
15. Modern Turkish Literature: Texts and Contexts (Laurent Mignon) 16. The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Avi Shlaim)
17. History from below in the Middle East and North Africa (Stephanie Cronin)
18. Space and Gender in Middle Eastern Literatures: The Harem and the Body (Marilyn Booth)
19. History and Politics of the Gulf (Toby Matthieson) 20. History of Qajar Iran (Stephanie Cronin)
In addition to these options, other options may be available and students may also propose an option of their own choice not on this list. Students with advanced competence in a Middle Eastern language, for example, might wish to devise an option based on sources in that language (e.g. modern Turkish literature, or Arabic texts in contemporary Islamic thought, or Persian political texts). Alternatively, students may have an interest in a field not covered by this list, for which a significant body of literature exists. Students should consult with their University Supervisor on the feasibility of such a special subject, and will need to find a tutor willing to teach the option. University Supervisors will suggest tutors for various subjects. All special subjects need to be approved by the Faculty Board. Students should apply to the Faculty Board on a special form available in the faculty offices. Applications should be addressed to the Secretary, Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, The Oriental Institute, and have to be submitted before Monday of the second week of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination.
Thesis
All students are required to submit a thesis of no more than 30,000 words on a subject approved by the Faculty Board. The thesis should be based on extensive research in secondary sources and include a full scholarly apparatus of references and
bibliography. Students are strongly encouraged to use primary sources and sources in Oriental languages where possible. A copy of the general regulations governing the preparation and submission of M.Phil. theses is appended to the end of this handbook.
Thesis titles need to be approved by the Faculty Board, Applications have to be submitted, on a form obtainable in the faculty offices, by Monday of the second week of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination.
Evaluation Process
Students’ work is subject to regular evaluation through the two years of the course. Each essay written for the Methodology Seminar is marked, as are tutorial essays in the different options. Language instructors use a variety of quizzes, tests and
collections after vacations to assess students’ standing. These marks and assessments are reported to the relevant University Supervisor in end-of-term-reports. Students may ask their University Supervisor to discuss the contents of their reports with them. Students sit two formal examinations in the M.Phil. in Modern Middle Eastern
Studies. At the end of their second term students sit theQualifying Examination, composed of two papers:
(ii) A general paper on the Modern Middle East.
Thus the Qualifying Examination corresponds directly to the material covered in the first two terms of the course. The examination serves to demonstrate the student’s ability to learn a language and to write essays – the two fundamental skills required by the course.
Students who fail the Qualifying Examination may at the discretion of the Faculty Board be allowed to retake at the end of their third term. All students must ultimately pass the Qualifying Examination.
In the third term of their second year students sit theFinal Examination, composed of five papers:
(i) One language paper in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish based on
knowledge of grammar, translation from the Oriental language to English, and reading comprehensionORone language paper in Advanced Arabic,
Advanced Persian or Advanced Turkish based on prose composition,
translation from the Oriental language to English, and reading comprehension. (ii) A thesis of not more than 30,000 words.
(iii-v) Three papers from the options listed above, provided that instead of one of these papers a student may offer a paper on a subject not included in the list, with the approval of the Faculty Board.
The standard setting conventions for all examinations except language examinations require students to answer three essay questions from a choice of ten. It is imperative that students write three complete essays to satisfy the examiners. Failure to do so is likely to lead to aviva voceor oral examination.
Marking Scale
>70 Distinction A very good answer that is structured, innovative and comprehensive 60-69 Pass A good answer that includes major points and their significance 59-0 Fail A less than satisfactory answer
To pass the M.Phil. examination, candidates must have an average mark of at least 60%.
No mark on any paper may fall below the passing level of 60%. The weighting of course components will be as follows:
The Thesis counts for 30% of the final marks; the language examination counts for 25% of the final marks; each of the optional papers counts for 15% of the final marks. To achieve a distinction no single mark on a course component may fall below 65.
There is no classification, though examiners may award a distinction.
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Three libraries house the Middle East studies collection of the University of Oxford. The Middle East Centre Library (Investcorp Building, St Antony’s College) holds some 35,000 books in Western and Middle Eastern languages, with an emphasis on the 18th century to the present. The MEC holds an extensive collection of journals and periodicals, and receives newspapers in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hebrew. It also holds a rare book collection and an extensive microfilm and microfiche
collection.
The Middle East Centre Archive (Investcorp Building, St Antony’s College) contains over 2,800 boxes of papers and photographs of over 550 individuals or organisations covering the period 1800 to the present day with strong holdings for the Palestine Mandate and for Oman in the 1970s.
The Oriental Institute Library (Pusey Lane) houses the collection of books and periodicals in Western and Middle Eastern languages with a particular emphasis on the period from the rise of Islam to the early modern period.
The Oriental Reading Room of the New Bodleian Library (entry on Parks Road) is the means of access to the extensive Oriental manuscript collection as well as reference works and secondary sources received on deposit by the Bodleian Library.
Wadham College Library houses a collection of Persian books.
CENTRES
The Middle East studies community is active in a number of different centres. The Middle East Centre, 68 Woodstock Road and Investcorp Building, St Antony’s College (Eugene Rogan, Director), serves as both the University centre and as a Centre of St Antony’s College. Its resources are available to all members of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. 68 Woodstock Road is home to a number of faculty members actively involved in the M.Phil., including Walter Armbrust, Michael Willis, Tariq Ramadan, Avi Shlaim, Philip Robins, Eugene Rogan, Ahmed Al-Shahi, Stephanie Cronin , Toby Matthiesen and Homa Katouzian. Each year, the MEC receives a number of visiting scholars, including a Visiting Iranian Fellow and a Visiting Lebanese Fellow. The Middle East Centre Library, Middle East Archive, and Lecture Theatre are located in the Investcorp Building accessible through the main entrance of St Antony’s College. The MEC hosts a weekly seminar on Friday evenings in Hilary and Trinity terms, and two annual lectures: The Abd al-Aziz Lecture and The George Antonius Annual Lecture.
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, 57 Woodstock Road (Robert Skinner, Director), is an independent centre for the study of the political economy of
hydrocarbons. It houses a library and promotes the study of oil and energy through funded research projects, the publication of its own journal and books, and through an annual conference on world energy trends.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, George Street (Farhan Nizami, Director), is an independent research centre on the Islamic world. It promotes the study of Islam not just in the Middle East, but around the world, and attracts visiting scholars to Oxford with a range of studentships and research fellowships. The OCIS holds regular seminars and organises conferences and guest lectures.
The Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies is based in the Clarendon Institute on Walton Street. Many facets of mediaeval and modern Jewish Studies are taught by the members of the University Teaching and Research Unit in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, staffed primarily by Fellows of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and housed in the Oriental Institute. The OCHJS promotes the study of Judaism and the Jewish people from ancient to modern times, and holds the most extensive library collection on modern Israel. The Centre promotes scholarship through a number of studentships and research fellowships and holds a regular seminar on all aspects of Jewish studies.
GENERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF M.PHIL. THESES
(These regulations in part incorporate the relevant sections in theExamination Regulations, which students are advised to consult for further information) The M.Phil. thesis should not exceed 30,000 words in length. The word count includes all material from page 1 through the conclusion of the thesis, including footnotes and/or endnotes.
The following parts of the thesis are excluded from the 30,000 word limit: front material (abstract, table of contents, lists of figures, and preface) which should be paginated in lower case Roman numbers (i, ii, iii … etc); all appendices, which should come after the conclusion of the thesis; and the bibliography.
There is no prescribed system of notes, though candidates are urged to adopt a consistent system for both notes and bibliography. It is preferable to use footnotes. Candidates should transliterate Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, and Persian according to the system used by theInternational Journal of Middle East Studies. Modern Hebrew should be transliterated according to the system used by theEncyclopedia Judaica. The standard font for theses is Times New Roman 12-point. The entire text should be in the same font, including notes.
The text should be double-spaced and the right margin not justified. The thesis must be printed on one side of the paper only, with a margin of 3 to 3.5 cm on the left-hand edge of each page, and must be securely and firmly bound in either hard or soft covers for examination. Loose-leaf binding is not acceptable.
Two copies of the thesis should be presented not later than noon on the Friday of the second week of the Trinity Term in which the examination is taken. The copies should addressed to the Chairman of the Examiners for the Degree of M.Phil. in Oriental Studies/Modern Middle Eastern Studies, c/o the Clerk of the Examination Schools, High Street.It must state clearly, on both the envelope and the front sheet of the thesis, the candidate’s examination number, degree course and the title of the thesis. The candidate’s name should not appear on the examination copies of the thesis. Acknowledgements or dedications should also not appear in the examination copies of the thesis..
The thesis must be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate indicating that it is the candidate’s own work, except where otherwise specified. This statement must be submitted separately in a sealed envelope addressed to the chairman of examiners of the degree course in question.
