POLI3570 · Political Science

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Do not take this course if you previously taken this course under the name "The Arab-Israeli Conflict". This course is class-restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza are only the latest tragic chapters in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The broader struggle, which involves not just Israelis and Palestinians, but also regional states like Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, has been at the core of Middle East politics over the past century. But the character and outcomes of this conflict have varied significantly across time and space. This course will address the origins, dynamics, and effectiveness of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism, the causes of war and peace, and changes in territorial and political control of the region from the early 1900s to the present. Students will learn and analyze the perspectives and behaviors of state and non-state actors on all sides to gain a greater appreciation for a struggle that continues to drive regional dynamics and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. By the conclusion of the course, students will emerge not only with a far richer understanding of the region, its people, and its politics, but also as more sophisticated consumers, analysts, and producers of knowledge.