A sociological and anthropological overview of diverse cultures and social structures of the Middle East emphasizing changes in social, political, and economic institutions. The course deals with the role of religion, the modern state, nationalism, political and religious conflicts, social classes, industrialization, modernization, and the impact of the West on the Middle East. Writing Option. (This course will have an optional travel component to Istanbul, Turkey in 2019-20.) (Group I) (Diversity)