OREP7000     Seminar

This course is designed for graduate students to provide them with theoretical and practical technical knowledge to conduct scientific research. It offers a hands-on technical base for the research design of a master's thesis project. Its aim is to develop students' awareness of research methods, encourage them to propose their own research problems and questions based on scientific studies in the literature, and develop their mastery of data collection and analysis methods.

 

OREP7001     Research Methods

This course focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of research in the social sciences by providing a detailed examination of research methodologies. Throughout the course, the design of the research process, various data collection methods, and analysis techniques are covered. Adopting a pluralistic perspective, the course introduces qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods while engaging students in key debates in the philosophy of science. Doing so helps develop awareness of research methods, fosters a critical perspective on scientific studies in the literature, and supports the production of well-structured academic work. Students will develop the ability to analyze, discuss, and reflect on research processes and challenges.

 

OREP7012     Middle East Economic History and Theoretical Approaches

Assit. Prof. Fatih Baha AYDIN

This course examines the economic structure of the Middle East from a historical perspective, exploring how various theoretical approaches interpret the region’s economic transformations. Spanning from the late Ottoman period to the present day, it covers topics such as agriculture, trade, industrialization, state-led development, colonialism, the oil economy, and neoliberal reforms, analyzing them within both local dynamics and global interactions. The course also provides a comparative discussion of major schools of thought—such as classical economics, dependency theory, new institutionalism, and Islamic economics—as they relate to the region. By the end of the course, students are expected to develop a multilayered understanding of the Middle East’s economic history and to contextualize current issues within their historical and theoretical frameworks.

 

OREP7017     Natural Resources Economics in the Middle East

Assoc. Dr. Rahman DAĞ

The main objective of the course is to reveal the importance of energy resources in human history and to reveal the importance of energy policy in today's international politics. The development and diversification of energy resources have historically led to the progress or regression of some countries. In this course, the role of energy in the change of international systems from the 19th century to the present day will be examined.

 

OREP7025     Economic Doctrines

Assit. Prof. Muhammet Bedrettin TOPRAK

This course aims to analyze capitalism, the system that has fundamentally transformed world economies in the last few centuries, and the economic ideas that have developed around it. The course aims to examine the dynamics of modern economics in historical and theoretical contexts and to understand the background of today's market economies. The aim of the course is to discuss the basic principles, concepts and debates of modern economics in a comparative perspective. In this context, we will analyze the schools of economic thought and thinkers that emerged from the early modern period and the socioeconomic contexts in which their ideas were formed, and we will discuss the doctrinal debates that extend to the present day.

 

OREP7040     Natural Resources and Energy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rahman DAĞ

Although the title of the course is “Natural Resources and Energy”, its content examines the impact of natural and energy resources on the domestic and foreign policies of Middle Eastern countries both regionally and globally. Firstly, the natural and energy resources of the selected Middle Eastern country will be profiled (import and export rates, worldwide reserve ratio, quality of energy resources if possible, etc.) and then how they affect bilateral, regional or global policies will be evaluated.

 

OREP7057     Middle East and International Political Economy

Asst. Prof. Burcu ERMEYDAN

This course is designed to enable students to understand the complex interactions between economics and politics at the global and regional level, with a particular focus on the Middle East. The course covers basic International Political Economy theories and focuses on key topics such as the history of the international economic system, international trade, global finance, and the economic challenges facing developing countries, including poverty, inequality, and environmental issues. Students will examine major international economic institutions and current issues through lectures, readings, and discussions. The course content is enriched with case studies from the Middle East that will explain theoretical concepts and stimulate discussions on their regional and global implications. At the end of the course, students will be equipped to critically analyze how economic and political processes have shaped the role of the Middle East in the global economy.

 

OREP7058     Economic Sociology

Assit. Prof. Fatih Baha AYDIN

Economic Sociology examines the social foundations of economic life by exploring how economic behaviors, institutions, and systems are embedded in cultural, political, and historical contexts. It introduces key concepts and debates in the field, such as the influence of norms, networks, power relations, and symbolic meanings on markets and economic action. In addition to classical thinkers like Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, the course also covers contemporary theoretical approaches including new economic sociology, institutionalism, and cultural economy. Through theoretical texts and empirical examples, the course aims to equip students with the ability to critically analyze the relationship between economy and society in both historical and contemporary contexts.

 

OREP7059     Ottoman Economic and Social History I

Assit. Prof. Muhammet Bedrettin TOPRAK

This course aims to introduce graduate students to the economic and social relations and institutions of the Ottoman period and the dynamics that shaped them. The course provides readings and discussions on the thoughts, events and situations that shaped the economic view and social life of the period. It deals with the basic principles, concepts and debates of the Ottoman economic and social structure shaped by the events and ideas that developed in the historical process. 

 

OREP7060     Asian Economies and Their Relations with the Middle East

Assit. Prof. Burcu ERMEYDAN

In recent years, Asia has emerged as one of the most dynamic regions shaping global economics and politics. Therefore, both the regional economic structure and the unique path of economic development of each Asian country deserve to be analyzed with a special emphasis on their position in the global economy. This course aims to discuss the current problems of Asian economies, their place in the global economic structure, and their economic relations with the Middle East. The geographical scope of the course includes Japan, China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and ASEAN members. Throughout the course, the economic development model of each Asian country, their current economic structure, and their economic relations with the Middle East countries will be analyzed from a political economy perspective.