POLS447-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017

Islam and Politics: The Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the World

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2017
End Date: Sunday, 19 November 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 July 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 13 October 2017

Description

Islam has, since its beginnings been intertwined with politics in a multitude of ways - ways that, since 9/11, often seem dangerous, if we are to believe some politicians and media. If we look more closely, however, we see that political Islam has changed many times over the last century. The course will cover Islam in both the Middle East and Southeast Asia, from a variety of perspectives.

After the 9/11 attacks, the world's hegemon believed its security shaken, by a small number of fanatical adherents of one religion, and reacted by declaring a "global war on terror." The subsequent Bali Bombings and attacks on Madrid, London, Mumbai, Istanbul, and Paris, among others, did spread the threat far and wide, as small groups sought to spread terror globally, perhaps in response to the US declaration. Privacy, banking systems, airport security, immigration and refugee policies have all been reshaped in the face of this posited threat and the associated fears, all in ways that enhance the power of traditional nation-states. Along the way, our notions of international security and of democracy have been reshaped in quite fundamental ways. No longer is our view of security based on powerful high tech weaponry, limited only to superpowers, and indeed even a focus on nation-states is no longer sufficient in explaining this challenge to global peace and security. Democratic governance in both Islamic nations and in the West has been powerfully affected, perhaps undermined in some places, reinforced in others. In this course, we seek not only to understand this new type of threat, but also to understand what it tells us about the changes and continuities in the international system, about the implications for governance and democracy.

Islam has, since its beginnings been intertwined with politics in a multitude of ways—ways that, since 9/11, often seem dangerous, if we are to believe some politicians and media. If we look more closely, however, we see that political Islam has changed many times over the last century. The challenges of colonialism, of independence, of modernity, and of globalisation all had powerful effects on Islam as a religion and an identity. We thus begin by considering Islam as an identity, alongside ethnicity, nationalism, and other identities, focusing on the way identities developed historically. What is the effect of these identities on politics in the Middle East, in Southeast Asia, on governance and on international relations? Is there something unique about Islamic identity that might explain the current conflict? Or is the conflict better conceived as a more general problem of clashing identities? We then consider the interaction between Islam and various styles of governance, including authoritarianism, militarism, and democracy. Is there some aspect of Islam that makes governance particularly problematic in contemporary political systems? Is it compatible with democracy? Are the problems of governance related to attacks on nation-states? Finally, we turn to globalisation and the rise of non-state actors, the resurgence and globalisation of Islam itself, and the consequent impact on security, conflict and international relations. The course will cover Islam in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and globally, from a variety of perspectives. It also uses Islam as a lens to understand emerging forms of conflict, styles of governance, domestic and international political structures, and authority more generally.

Learning Outcomes

Students enrolled in this course will learn key paradigms employed in the study of identity politics in general and of Islam and politics in particular. They will learn about politics and Islam in both the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on important similarities and differences across a range of countries where Islam has an influence on politics. Students will learn about relations between Islamic countries and the West historically, and will study underlying reasons for contemporary conflicts within Islamic countries, and between Islamic and Western nations. The course will also introduce the issues concerning democratic governance in Muslim majority states. Students will gain a broad understanding of the links between religion, culture, international relations, and governance through a focus on Islam. Readings, assignments, and the exam are designed to help students develop both a broad understanding of literature on Islam and politics, and an in depth knowledge of one or more specific topics.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Restrictions

POLS412

Course Coordinator

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Formal Presentations 10% In class during the ast week of the class
Research Paper 1 18 Aug 2017 30% Approximately 3,000 words
Research Paper 2 02 Oct 2017 30% Approximately 3,000 words
Final Exam 30% Scheduled by the University

Textbooks / Resources

Readings will be available on Learn, in the case of book chapters, or through the library catalogue in the case of journal articles.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,775.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS447 Occurrences

  • POLS447-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017