Geopolitical and narrative configurations of the Middle East Mediterranean region

Description
This is an elective subject which, given the transversality of its topics, is aimed at both third-year undergraduates and Master’s students. It is recommended for students interested in international relations and in geopolitics, in narratives and in media and intercultural communication.
More particularly, it is suitable for students attending graduate programmes such as Public Management and Policy, Economics and International Policies, International Tourism, Economic Policy, Philosophy, Media Management, and Lingua, Letteratura e Civiltà italiana. Participants will be able to approach and develop the issues presented in class from their own standpoint and according to their study curricula.
Current developments affecting the Middle East Mediterranean region will be examined in the context of global history and will offer an opportunity for broader considerations in the challenges of today.This region’s constantly changing situation has a momentous impact on worldwide dynamics, as it has on Europe and its political order. The course will focus also on the events that took place in the MEM region in 2020 (pandemic, oil price collapse, new geopolitical agreements, etc.).
Space will also be given to the effect of the media on the narratives of this complex and heterogeneous region.

Approach / Method
Professor Kepel will lecture on alternate weeks. There will be ex-cathedra lectures combined with seminars that require the audience to actively participate. 
Dr Frediani will teach classes on the role of narratives in the region, and will also guide and supervise students in their work.

Language: Italian 

Mode of assessment
The examination consists in writing a paper (more details at the beginnings of the course).

Bibliographical references
Gilles Kepel, Uscire dal caos, Le crisi nel Mediterraneo e nel Medio Oriente, Cortina, Milano 2019.
Gilles Kepel. Il ritorno del profeta, Feltrinelli, Milano 2021. 

A more detailed bibliography will be distributed during the semester.