Middle East Security

This course surveys major security challenges shaping the Middle East, a region central to global stability and U.S. strategic interests. Students examine historical legacies—including sectarian divides and colonial influence—alongside modern phenomena such as revolution, authoritarian resilience, and ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Israel‑Palestine.

The course explores the evolution of regional actors and terrorist organizations, Iran’s security strategy and nuclear ambitions, and the mixed outcomes of international interventions. Emphasizing integrative analysis, students learn to understand regional security issues through historical context, current dynamics, and policy implications, developing nuanced perspectives on Middle East conflict and strategy.