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Within the context of the TOMidEast initiatives, the Department of Culture, Politics, and Society, University of Turin, is pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Summer School “Understanding the Middle East” dedicated this year to the issue of the role of natural resources and human flows in the struggle for the hegemony.
Over the last twenty years, the sectarian reading of Middle Eastern conflicts and societies more broadly has become commonplace, pervasive and totalizing both within academia and the media. However, this analytical framework oversimplifies reality, depicting the MENA as a region enduring perpetual fighting between tribes, sects, and confessions.
This fifth edition of the summer school “Understanding the Middle East” critically unpacks this analytical framework trying to reflect on two strictly connected dimensions: the role of natural resources and human flows in shaping the politics of the Middle East. In this light, the struggle for regional hegemony deals with realpolitik imperatives – and interests – and not with the sectarian composition of the MENA states. Accordingly, the management of natural resources (hydrocarbons, gas, water, nuclear power) and human flows (war refugees, environmental refugees, displaced people, etc.) play a central role. Competition over resources, indeed, is something affecting borders, identities, nationhood and, of course, ecology.
In short, the objective of the summer school is to offer useful tools of analysis to better understand the complexity of the current transformations and, at the same time, to re-open discussions free from oversimplifications.
The TOMidEast summer school is designed to suit the needs of highly motivated students and professionals who wish to engage with an intensive set of courses focusing on contemporary Middle East political development.
Applications by any professional or student who is in possession of the required qualifications are welcomed. These are a Bachelor honours degree (or an equivalent European title, such as the laurea triennale for Italian students with a minimum grade of 100/110) and good command of the English language.
Undergraduate students (i.e. students who will not yet have a degree at the start of the School) who are enrolled in an area-studies university course focussing on Middle East are also welcome, provided that they have completed at least one year of course.
Special attention will be devoted to those applicants who can demonstrate their proficiency in English by means of an international qualification. Though this is not a mandatory requirement, an ideal proof would be a minimum TOEFL score of 620 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test), or 100 (Internet test), or IELTS 7.0 or their equivalent (e.g. the Cambridge Advanced or CPE Certificate). Previous studying experience abroad will also be taken into consideration.
Tuition fees are 350€ for students and 450€ for professionals (VAT included). Student status will be extended to applicants who graduated in December 2017 or later and who are not currently employed full-time. Fees cover tuition and working materials.
Students only may apply for one type of scholarship:
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