Contemporary Arab-EU relationships and its influence on politics and societies

Contemporary Arab-EU relationships and its influence on politics and societies

Summer semester 2025/2026

dr Karol Wilczyński (Jagiellonian Center for Migration Studies)

mail: karolmikolaj.wilczynski@uj.edu.pl

Office hours: Thursday, 11:30-12:00 (upon shorter notice by e-mail), JCSM office, Reymonta 4

Class Dates: Thursdays, 4:45 PM - 6:15 PM, Reymonta Street 4 Grading Method and Conditions: 1) Maximum 2 absences (other absences must be made up) 2) Summaries of readings in a BRIEF outline form: 0-5 outlines = partial grade: 2 6-7 outlines = partial grade: 3 8-10 outlines = partial grade: 4 11 or more outlines = partial grade: 5 OR Microanalyses of Current Political Messages 0-5 microanalyses = partial grade: 2 6-7 microanalyses = partial grade: 3 8-10 microanalyses = partial grade: 4 11 or more microanalyses = partial grade: 5 Texts will be made available to course participants at least 6 days before the class. The deadline for submitting the outline (a short summary, max. 1000 characters with spaces, containing a description of the main points presented by the author) is Tuesday evening before the class. The outline should be submitted by email to karolmikolaj.wilczynski@uj.edu.pl 3) Activity (activity is counted the same as for summaries. One point can be earned per class). 4) A written paper on the topic accepted by the instructor. Paper should be of approximately 3000-3600 characters with spaces. It should be sent by 15th June to karolmikolaj.wilczynski@uj.edu.pl.

OR

a presentation submitted/prepared and presented during class by June 1st, 2026 (the presentation must be sent at least one week in advance to karolmikolaj.wilczynski@uj.edu.pl).

*** All missing work (in outlines, activities, tests, etc.) can be made up during office hours (after prior email contact). Please note – due to the conversational nature of the classes, participants will be asked not to turn off their cameras during the classes.

***

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical, political, and economic dimensions shaping contemporary Arab-European relations. By examining the legacy of colonialism, authoritarianism, and geopolitical dependencies, students will explore the complexities of Arab states' interactions with European democracies. The course will analyze key issues such as the political role of Gulf states in European Muslim communities, the economic interdependence between the EU and Arab countries, and the impact of energy resources on diplomatic strategies. Furthermore, students will critically assess the consequences of tribal and religious conflicts, particularly in Iraq and Yemen, and investigate the far-reaching effects of the Arab Spring and the persistent influence of former colonial powers in the region. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the course will also address European policies toward ethnic and religious minorities, highlighting the socio-political integration of Arab migrants within the EU. Special attention will be given to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role European states have played in shaping its historical trajectory. By engaging with case studies and empirical data, students will develop analytical skills to evaluate migration trends, assess the challenges of democratization, and understand the broader societal impact of Arab-European interactions. Ultimately, this course equips students with the knowledge and critical tools necessary to engage in informed discussions on Arab-EU relations, fostering a nuanced perspective on the political and social dynamics that continue to shape both regions. TOPICS:

1) How was the Middle East created in Europe? Introductory session 2) Arab authoritarianism and the blackmailing of European democracies 3) The Gulf states and the political instrumentalization of Muslim communities in the EU 4) Tribal and religious conflicts: Iraq and Yemen – the legacy of colonization 5) Economy and oil: a curse, dependence, or blessing? 6) Democracy and prosperity: Why can't the EU "introduce" them? (Part 1) 7) Democracy and prosperity: Why can't the EU "introduce" them? (Part 2) 8) The tragedy of the Arab Spring and the long reach of former colonial powers (Part 1) 9) The tragedy of the Arab Spring and the long reach of former colonial powers (Part 2) 10) European policy and ethnic and religious minorities 11) Palestine: The conflict of the century and the role of European states (Part 1) 12) Palestine: The conflict of the century and the role of European states (Part 2) 13) Migrations from Arab states to the EU 14) The situation of Arab minorities in EU countries

Upon completing the course, students will:

Understand the historical foundations of Arab-European relations and their impact on contemporary politics and societies.

Recognize the role of colonial history in shaping current political and economic structures in the Arab world.

Analyze the influence of authoritarianism in Arab states and its interactions with European democracies.

Gain insights into the economic dependencies between the EU and Arab states, particularly regarding energy resources.

Understand the role of tribal and religious conflicts in shaping modern states such as Iraq and Yemen.

Examine the political strategies of Gulf states and their influence on Muslim communities in the EU.

Assess the consequences of the Arab Spring and the long-term involvement of former colonial powers in the region.

Explore the dynamics of Arab migration to the EU and the socio-political integration of Arab minorities in European societies.

Understand the European approach to ethnic and religious minorities within the context of its policies toward Arab states.

Analyze the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a focus on the historical and current role of European countries.

Readings:

Michael Gasper, „The Making of the Middle East”, w: The Middle East (ed. Ellen Lust; chosen passage).

Amr Adly (2021), „Authoritarian restitution in bad economic times. Egypt and the crisis of global neoliberalism”, Geoforum, Volume 124,  pp. 290-299.

Mark Basta (2023), „The Stakes of Egypt’s Next Presidential Elections”, link:

https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2023/11/30/the-stakes-of-egypts-next-presidential-elections/

Sara Salem (2020), „Anticolonial Afterlives in Egypt. The Politics of Hegemony”, Cambridge University Press, pp. 237-255.

Dina Al Sowayel (2021), „Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, w: The Middle East (ed. Ellen Lust), pp. 1337-1357.

Lisa Blaydes (2014), “How Does Islamist Local Governance Affect the Lives of Women?”, w: Governance, vol. 27.3, pp. 489–509.

Julia Choucair-Vizoso (2021), „Iraq”, w: The Middle East (ed. Ellen Lust), ss. 858-876, 904-907.

Marieke Brandt (2018), „The Global and the Local: Al-Qaeda and Yemen’s Tribes”, w: Tribes and Global Jihadism, Virginie Collombier and Olivier Roy (eds), Oxford University Press, ss. 105-114.

Sara Bazoobandi (2013), „Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund”, w: Political Economy of the gulf Sovereign Wealth Funds, Routledge, pp. 121-145.

Michael L. Ross (2012), The Oil Curse: How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations, Princeton University Press, ss. 551-604.

Dalia Ghanem (2022), Understanding the Persistence of Competitive Authoritarianism in Algeria, Palgrave Macmillan, ss. 1-10 oraz 199-204.

Safwan M. Masri (2018), Tunisia. An Arab Anomaly, Columbia Univ. Press, pp. IX-XI (mapy) oraz ss. 280-295. 

Amaney A. Jamal (2012)  “Introduction: Pro-American Democracy or No Democracy At All?”, w: Of Empires and Citizens: Pro-American Democracy or No Democracy At All? , Princeton University Press, pp. 1-37.

Rustum Mahmoud (2015), „Syrian Women’s Revolution: the New Women of Quraish”, w: Asaad Alsaleh (ed.), Voices of the Arab Spring: Personal Stories from the Arab Revolutions, Columbia University Press, pp. 198-205.

Aisha A. Nasef (2015), „Blood for my Country”, w: Asaad Alsaleh (ed.), Voices of the Arab Spring: Personal Stories from the Arab Revolutions, Columbia University Press, pp. 153-156.

Timur Kuran (2004), “Why the Middle East Is Economically Underdeveloped: Historical Mechanisms of Institutional Stagnation.”, w: Journal of Economic Perspectives 18, no. 3 (2004): pp. 71–90.

Wendy Pearlman (2013), “Emotions and the Microfoundations of the Arab Uprisings.” Perspectives on Politics 11, no. 2 (2013): pp. 387–409.

Michael Peyron (2021), The Berbers of Morocco: A History of Resistance, IB Tauris, ss. 249-254.

Paul Salem (2021), „Lebanon”, w: The Middle East (ed. Ellen Lust), fragmenty. 

Saloua Zerhouni, Driss Maghraoui (2021), „Morocco”, w: The Middle East (ed. Ellen Lust), fragmenty. 

Valerie J. Hoffman (2012), „Introduction”, w: The Essentials of Ibadi Islam, Syracuse Univ. Press, ss. 3-26.

Christine Eickelman (2020), Women and Community in Oman, New York University Press.

Allen James Fromherz (ed.) (2022), Sultan Qaboos and Modern Oman, 1970–2020, Edinburgh University Press.

Francisco Freire (ed.) (2022), State, Society and Islam in the Western Regions of the Sahara: Regional Interactions and Social Change, IB Tauris.

Tamar Hermann (2013), “Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism: Possibilities of Recognition”,

Israel Studies, Vol. 18, Issue 2, pp. 133–147.

Nahla Abdo (2014), Captive Revolution: Palestinian Women’s Anti-Colonial Struggle Within the Israeli Prison System, Pluto Press.

Yael S. Aronoff (2021), „Pathways to Peace. Legitimation of a Two-State Solution”, w: Continuity and Change in Political Culture. Israel and Beyond, ed. by Yael. S. Aronoff, Ilana Peleg, Saliba Sarsar.

Hedva Ben-Israel Kidron (2003), “Zionism and European Nationalisms: Comparative Aspects”, Israel Studies, Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 91–104. 

Julia Chaitin (2011), Peace-building in Israel and Palestine. Social Psychology and Grassroots Initiatives, Palgrave Macmillan.

Bhambra G K (2017) 'The current crisis of Europe: Refugees, colonialism, and the limits of cosmopolitanism', w: European Law Journal 23(5): 395– 405. 

E. Tendayi Achiume, 'Reimagining International Law for Global Migration: Migration as Decolonization' (2017) 111  AJIL unbound  142-146.

Giglioli I. (2019) On not being European enough. Migration, crisis and precarious livelihoods on the periphery of Europe., w: "Social & Cultural Geography".

de Genova, N.(2012), 'Border, Scene and Obscene', w: Companion to Border Studies.

Parmar, A. (2020) 'Borders as Mirrors: Racial Hierarchies and Policing Migration', w: Critical Criminology 28, 175–192.