POL SCI 132A
International Relations of Middle East
Description: Lecture, three or four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Requisite: course 20. Designed for juniors/seniors. Contemporary regional issues and conflicts, with particular attention to inter-Arab politics, Arab-Israeli problem, and Persian Gulf area.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2020 - Lots of weekly reading, but it sure is worth it! Be sure to manage your time and DON’T PROCRASTINATE! Prior to this course, I knew nothing about the Middle East, but after it was done, I learned the history, politics, and reasoning as to why the Middle East is the way it is. Professor Waxman is extremely bright on this topic. His lectures are very brief but complex. We also had guest speakers, many of whom are experts in IR of the Middle East. Though, as others have noted, some of the speakers were hard to understand at times. I felt that the Essay exams were a bit challenging, so it is essential you ask questions and clarifications from your TA because they are the ones who will grade it. Luckily, my TA (Monica) was awesome! You will have multiple prompts, but only choose 3 to answer in an essay format for the Midterm and Final exam. One downside for me was the simulation because it was honestly a waste of money. We could’ve just used GroupMe instead. Over all, this is perhaps one of the best courses I have taken at UCLA – thus far!
Fall 2020 - Lots of weekly reading, but it sure is worth it! Be sure to manage your time and DON’T PROCRASTINATE! Prior to this course, I knew nothing about the Middle East, but after it was done, I learned the history, politics, and reasoning as to why the Middle East is the way it is. Professor Waxman is extremely bright on this topic. His lectures are very brief but complex. We also had guest speakers, many of whom are experts in IR of the Middle East. Though, as others have noted, some of the speakers were hard to understand at times. I felt that the Essay exams were a bit challenging, so it is essential you ask questions and clarifications from your TA because they are the ones who will grade it. Luckily, my TA (Monica) was awesome! You will have multiple prompts, but only choose 3 to answer in an essay format for the Midterm and Final exam. One downside for me was the simulation because it was honestly a waste of money. We could’ve just used GroupMe instead. Over all, this is perhaps one of the best courses I have taken at UCLA – thus far!
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