This course will look at the history of the Modern Middle East through the lens of popular politics and protest movements.

We will examine the causes, consequences, methods and social demographics of various protest movements spanning from the late nineteenth century to the Arab Spring.

The course will address themes and topics such the role of constitutionalism, militarism, colonialism, religion and gender in the context of popular politics in the region.

Moreover, we will discuss cultural and religious spaces as sites of resistance, considering how popular protests appropriated and reshaped their meaning.

Lastly, moving beyond collective performances such as demonstrations, strikes, associations, etc., in an effort to challenge conventional models of ‘social movement theory’, we will consider the struggles of ordinary people for change in their everyday lives. Students will engage with a variety of primary sources and secondary sources that include historical scholarship, memoirs, fiction, blogs, vlogs, and twitter feeds that shed light on the dynamic and fascinating history of popular politics in the Middle East.

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