Download HIST 1978V: Islamic Political Thought, Global Islam, and

HIST 1978V: Islamic Political Thought, Global Islam, and Globalization
Crosslisted as REL 1510 and MES
Fall 2013
Friday, 3-5:20
Dr. Anthony J. Watson,
Adjunct Assistant Professor of History;
Associate Director, Middle East Studies
anthony [email protected]
Office: Watson Institute, 322
Office Hours: Friday, 1-3
I.
Course Description
Globalization is a cultural process favoring the development of transnational
identity and communities based on ethnicity, religion, cultures, and chosen
lifestyle. In this way, Islam is a powerful driver for identity formation, forming
solidarity between various groups that might otherwise remain independent of each
other. This course will examine this process as it relates to Political Islamic
Thought and the ways it informs fundamentalist approaches within this incredibly
diverse world religion. Using primary texts and secondary analysis, this seminar
will explore how modernity and globalization have influenced fundamentalist
theological reform movements and formed a basis for political action. It will
explore concepts of a global 'Ummah', which link disparate groups across national
boundaries into an imagined community with a shared religious viewpoint and
perceived fate. Finally, it will examine diasporic communities that develop
solidarity across borders, thereby becoming what are often labeled as 'transnational
networks'. This course will examine these aspects of Global Islam, exploring its
global diversity as well the groups and transnational networks that make Islam a
vital aspect of 21st-century life.
II.
Course Objectives
This course is based on discussion in a seminar format. Students will read primary
and secondary texts and analyze ongoing trends in Global Islam. They will gain an
understanding of Islamic Political Thought and be able to relate the transnational
history of Global Islam. In the process students will also come to understand key
Islamic beliefs and organizational structures across different political and cultural
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contexts, ultimately allowing them to conceptualize the political aspects of Islam
within a Global context. Participation is essential and all students are expected to
engage with all course readings and contribute to class discussion, leading where
necessary. All students will be required to present during one of the weeks and
contribute to in-class debates. Finally, students will refine their writing skills
through a series of reflection papers and writing assignments.
Grading
Grades are according to the following scale:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
Below 60
III.
A
B
C
D
NC
Assignments
Assignments are designed to meet objectives through response papers on the
lectures and readings which will require manipulation of data, critical thinking,
analysis, and presentation. The substance of the course will be centered on
supplemental lectures and discussions of selected reading material and media. The
discussions will require reading of the material; participation in these discussions
is required for successful completion of the course.
1. Reflection papers (30%)
Weekly reflection papers are due over the course of the semester. Papers are to be no more
than one page single spaced and are due on CANVAS by noon Friday. Reflections are
worth 30% of your grade—this is a really easy way to stay ahead if you get them in on time
and do a good job. It is meant to provide a forum for students to provide their reflections and
opinions on the week’s reading assignments and topics and/or current events. They are
graded C/NC.
2. Short Written Assignment (10%) - Due October 4
The short written assignment is just a longer reflection paper. It is due on CANVAS by noon
10/4/2013. It should be a two-page single spaced reflection on the primary source readings
by Ibn Taymiyya, Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, Al Afghani, and Muhammad Abduh.
You are free to add your own observations, but as a framing set of questions, I would like
you to consider the following:
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1. How are the writings of Ibn Taymiyya and Abdul Wahhab different from Jamal Al
Afghani and Muhammad Abduh?
2. How are they similar?
3. Midterm Proposal, Bibliography and Outline (10%) –Due October 18
The Midterm proposal is a brief (200 word) precis of your final paper, accompanied by an
outline and suggested bibliography. It should outline a well presented original research paper
that incorporates class texts in a manner that demonstrates command of the material, critical
thinking about the topic, and a considered use of outside sources. Proposals should be
hardcopy, double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.
4. Leading an in-class discussion (10%)
These discussion leader groups will present students an opportunity to work in small groups
on a range of topics determined from the readings of that week, agreed in conjunction with
me. Each group will be responsible for undertaking independent research on their chosen
topic(s) (I am available for questions or suggestions), briefly presenting their findings to the
class as a prelude to further in depth discussion, and taking the lead in guiding class
discussion during that session in a seminar format.
5. Final Paper (20%)
Final papers are to be well presented original research that incorporate class texts in a manner
demonstrating command of the material, critical thinking about the topic, and a considered
use of outside sources. They are a completion of the midterm proposal. Papers should be
hardcopy, 3500-4500 words in length, double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Mind
the limit! Topics for the final paper should be agreed with me. I am available for questions or
suggestions.
6. Class participation (20%)
Come to class. Class discussion of topics and participation in in-class projects is an essential
aspect of this course. If you miss a class for whatever reason, I expect a 5 page paper on the
reading for that week, due by next class. This does not count as a reflection paper.
IV. Course Texts
Coursebook available via Graphic Services.
Roy, Olivier Globalized Islam: the Search for a New Ummah
(Columbia University Press: 2004)
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Paperback
Roxanne Euben and Muhammad Qasim Zaman, eds. Princeton Readings in
Islamist Thought (Princeton: 2009)
Paperback
Gilles Kepel and Jean-Pierre Milelli, ed. Al Qaeda in its own words (Harvard
Belknap: 2008)
Paperback
V.Course Schedule and Reading assignments
Week 1: 9/6/2013 Introduction
In class: Qur’an , Surahs 3, 4,8, 9
Muhammad ‘Ata Al-Sayyid, ‘Final Instructions’ In Roxanne Euben and
Muhammad Qasim Zaman, eds. Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought
(Princeton: 2009)
Read:
Mona Hassan, ‘Modern Interpretations and Misinterpretations of a Medieval
Scholar: Apprehending the Political Thought of Ibn Taymiyya’ In Ibn Taymiyya
and His Times, Yossef Rapoport and Shahab Ahmed (Oxford: 2010)
Thomas Raff, ‘Remarks on an Anti-Mongol Fatwa by Ibn Taimiya’ (Leiden: 1973)
Ibn Taymiyya A Muslim Theologian’s Response to Christianity trans and ed.
Thomas Michel (Ann Arbor: Caravan, 1985), p. 181-198, 350-369.
Week 2: 09/13/2013
and Islam
Theories of Globalization, Transnationalism,
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Read:
Turner, Bryan, Islam, Postmodernism and Globalization, (London, 1994), p. 7794.
Boroujerdi, Mehrzad, ‘Subduing Globalization’ in Schaebler, et al. (ed.)
Globalization and the Muslim World (Syracuse, 2004), p. 30-38.
Piscatori, James ‘Religious transnationalism and global order, with particular
consideration of Islam’ in Esposito and Watson (eds.), Transnational Religion and
Fading States (Cardiff, 2000), p. 67-99.
Appadurai, Arjun Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization
(Minneapolis, 1996), p. 27-65.
Week 3: 9/20/2013 Wahabbism
Read:
Delong-Bas, Natana Wahabbi Islam: From Revival and Reform to Global Jihad
(Oxford, 2004), p. 227-279.
Fraser, Cary ‘In Defense of Allah’s Realm: Religion and Statecraft in Saudi
Foreign Policy Strategy’ in Rudolph and Piscatori (eds.) Transnational Religion
and Fading States (Boulder, 1997), p. 212-239.
Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, Kitab At-Tauhid (Riyadh: 1996), ch. 1-2, 4, 6,
63, 67
9/27/2013: No Class –Political Islam
Complete Short Written Assignment
Read:
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Jamal Ad-Din Al-Afghani, “Lecture on Teaching and Learning’,‘The Benefits of
Philosophy’ and ‘Commentary on the Commentator’from An Islamic Response to
Imperialism, Nikki Keddie and Hamid Algar, ed. (Berkeley: 1983), 101-108,109122, 123-129.
Muhammad Abduh, The Theology of Unity (Risalat Al-Tauhid), Ishaq Musa’ad
and Kenneth Cragg, trans. (London: 1966), p. 29-40, 123-160.
Week 4: 10/04/2013
The Muslim Brotherhood
Read:
Hasan al-Banna, ‘Toward the Light’ In Roxanne Euben and Muhammad Qasim
Zaman, eds. Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought (Princeton: 2009), p. 56-78.
Sayyid Qutb, ‘Signposts along the Road’ and ‘In the Shade of the Qur’an’ In
Roxanne Euben and Muhammad Qasim Zaman, eds. Princeton Readings in
Islamist Thought (Princeton: 2009), p. 136-154.
Hiro, Dilip War Without End (London, 2002), p. 59-112.
IRAN?
Week 5 RESCHEDULE to 10/8/2013?
Political Islam on the Subcontinent
Read:
Muhammad Iqbal, Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam, M.S. Sheikh, ed.
(Lahore: Institute of Islamic Culture, 1986), p. 23-49TBD
Sayyid Abu’l-A’la Mawdudi, ‘The Islamic Law’ in In Roxanne Euben and
Muhammad Qasim Zaman, eds. Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought
(Princeton: 2009)
Grare, Frederic Political Islam in the Indian Subcontinent: The Jamaat-i-Islam
(New Delhi, 2001), p. 58-97, 111-119 (abrv.).
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Nasr, Seyyed The Vanguard of the Islamic Revolution (Berkeley, 1994), p. 3-43.
Week 6: 10/18/2013 Da’wa Movements
Read:
Metcalf, Barbara ‘Traditionalist Islamic Activism: Deoband, Tablighis, and Talibs’
Schulze, Reinhardt ‘ The Institution of Da’wa’ in Esposito (ed.), Oxford
Encyclopedia of the Modern Muslim World
Week 7: 10/25/2013
Diaspora
Read:
Cesari, Jocelyne When Islam and Democracy Meet
(Palgrave, 2006), p. 141-158
Mandel, Ruth, ‘Shifting Cultures and Emergent Identities : Turkey and Germany in
the lives of Turkish gastarbiten’ in Eikelman, et al. (eds.) Muslim Travellers
(London, 1990), p. 153-171.
Werbner, Pnina Imagined Diasporas among Manchester Muslims (Santa Fe,
2002), p. 153-183.
Week 8 : 11/1/2013 Al-Qaeda
Burke, Jason Al-Qaeda: Casting A Shadow Of Terror (London, 2003), p. 7-39.
Gunaratna, Rohan Inside Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror (NewYork, 2002),
p. 21-126.
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Gilles Kepel and Jean-Pierre Milelli, ed. Al Qaeda in its own words (Harvard
Belknap, 2008), p. 11-80, 147-181, 193-205.
Week 9: 11/08/2013
Transnational Networks
Read:
Kaiser, Paul Culture, Transnationalism, and Civil Society: Aga Khan Social
Service Initiatives in Tanzania (Westport, 1996), p. 1-61, 98- 107.
Asani, Ali ‘The Khojas of South Asia: Defining a Space of their Own’ Cultural
Dynamics, 13:2, (2001), p. 155-168
Week 10: 11/15/2013
Islam and Human Rights
An-Na’im, Abdullahi Toward an Islamic Reformation: Civil Liberties, Human
Rights, and International Law (Syracuse, 1990), p. 161-181.
--------------------------- Islam and the Secular State (Harvard, 2008), p. 1-140.
Kurzman, Charles, ‘The Globalization of Rights in an Islamic Discourse,’ in
Mohammadi (ed.) Islam Encountering Globalization (London, 2002), p. 131-155.
Esack, Farid Qu’ran, Liberation, and Pluralism (Oxford, 1997), p. 82-113.
Week 11: 11/22-11/22/2013: Reschedule to 11/21? Virtual Islam
Bunt, Gary Islam in the Digital Age (London, 2003), p. 135-166.
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Karim, Karim ‘Muslim Encounters with New Media: Towards an InterCivilizational Discourse on Globality?’ in Mohammadi (ed.) Islam Encountering
Globalization (London, 2002), p. 36-60.
Week 12: 12/6/2013
Conclusions (Last day classes)
Read:
Roy, Olivier, Globalized Islam, p. 1-147.
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