ISLAM AND WORLD POLITICS

INTLST 266

An interdisciplinary introduction to the diverse cultures, geography, history, modern states, politics, societies, and economies of the Middle East. A special emphasis placed on Islam as a religion and Muslim peoples.

POLISCI 850

Examines the meanings of, and interactions between, religion and politics in comparative politics, international relations, and American politics. Explores the impact religion has on wide range of politically relevant outcomes and the mechanisms through which religion shapes those outcomes. Provides an overview of the main theoretical, conceptual, and empirical studies of religion and politics.

POLISCI 320

An introduction to the most pertinent themes to the study of politics and governance in the Middle East. Main topics to be covered: political economy of the region; link between Islam, culture and democracy; the politics of authoritarianism; and political Islam.

HISTORY 139

Traces the formation of the states and societies that compose the contemporary Middle East. How have global phenomena, including two world wars, the Cold War, women's movements, and modern science, technology, and fossil fuels, affected the politics, culture, and daily lives of Middle Eastern people? What is Islamism, and how should we explain its influence? Why has the United States had such a troubled relationship with this part of the world? Balances a generally thematic approach with several weeks of country-specific studies, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Israel and the Palestinian territories.

POLISCI/RELIGST 433

Explores the relationships and interactions between religion and politics from a comparative perspective. Discuss the appropriate relationship between religion and state. Investigate the implications of the various ways in which the religion-state relationship have been involved in political conflict. Building on this, turn to several of the current issues in religion and politics asking: Why is religion apparently more important than ever despite an increasingly secular world? What is religious nationalism? What is fundamentalism? How can we explain the similarities and differences between religious fundamentalist movements across the globe? How should democratic states cope with the emergence of fundamentalist movements? In order to begin answering these questions, integrate the theoretical frameworks we develop with explorations of the historical and local context of relevant case-studies from around the world.