George Mason University The School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs (SPGIA)

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1 George Mason University The School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs (SPGIA) Islam and Politics GOVT 733 Section: 001 CRN Thursday 4:30 7:10 pm Room: West 1001 Syllabus for Fall Semester 2015 WELCOME! Instructor: Professor Heba F. El-Shazli, Ph.D. Telephone: (703) Office: Robinson A242 Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays: 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm & on Tuesdays: 4:30 pm 5:30 pm. I will also be in class 15 minutes early and after class to respond to any questions and comments. Other times please contact me via and we can arrange a convenient time. Course Description: This graduate course will be in an in-depth review of the main precepts within the canon of writings on Islam and Politics. We will cover the role of Islamic political thought and how it has evolved; Islamism and Social Movements; an in-depth reading journey to the heart of the Quran; post-islamism and the changing faces of political Islam; and using a case study methodology to explore different forms of Islam in varying country/region contexts. The class will be structured around a series of key texts in the study of Muslim politics a combination of classic treatments of political Islam as well as more recently published books and articles that represent the cutting edge of contemporary research on Islam and politics. This course is a seminar style with heavy emphasis on readings, discussions and presentations by both the instructor and the students. 1 P age

2 Class Goals and Objectives: Detailed knowledge of the main trends of Islam and Politics Ability to relate the ideological aspects of political Islam to political context Critical understanding of different scholarly approaches and perspectives on Islam and Politics Ability to discuss and debate political Islam with reference to broad academic literature on the topic. A deeper understanding of various forms/case studies of Islam in Politics Required Books for this course: [Available on reserve at the library] 1. Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (2 nd Edition) Routledge, New York, August 14, 2014, ISBN-13: Carla Powers, If the Oceans Were Ink An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran, Holt & Company, New York, [ISBN: ] 3. Asef Bayat (editor), Post-Islamism The Changing Faces of Political Islam, Oxford University Press, [ISBN: ] 4. Shadi Hamid, Temptations of Power: Islamists & Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East, New York: Oxford University Press, [ISBN: ] 5. Carrie R. Wickham, The Muslim Brotherhood Evolution of an Islamist Movement, Princeton University Press, 2013 [ISBN: ] 6. Mustafa Akyol, Islam Without Extremes A Muslim Case for Liberty, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2013 [ISBN: ] 7. Haroon Ullah, Vying for Allah s Vote: Understanding Islamic Parties, Political Violence, and Extremism in Pakistan, Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, [ISBN: ] Other readings: journal articles will be made available on Blackboard HIGHLY Recommended for your library: [Available on reserve at the library] Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought Texts and Contexts from Al- Banna to Bin Laden - Roxanne L. Euben and Muhammad Qasim Zaman (editors) Series: Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics Paperback: 560 pages Publisher: Princeton University Press (October 11, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: ISBN-13: P age

3 Course Administrative Details: Attendance and in-class participation: student attendance and participation are essential for a meaningful learning experience for all. So please attendance is mandatory so we can all benefit from each other s interests, questions and knowledge. Please arrive at each class session on time prepared and ready for an engaging discussion using the readings and other resources. If there are circumstances that arise beyond your control or an emergency, please contact me via as soon as possible. Thank you. Assignments: % of final grade 1. Response Papers to Discussion Questions (x4) 20% 2. Mid-Term: Academic Book Review 20% 3. Research Paper Proposal 5% 4. Final Research Paper 20% 5. Class Attendance, In-class presentations & Participation in class discussions 35% [All writing assignments should be double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12 font size with 1 margins. Please put your name, date and the question you are answering at the beginning of the document.] 1. Class Attendance & In-class presentations and participation in discussions (35%) This is a seminar course and, as such, depends critically upon students active participation in class. Students must come to class prepared, having completed all the required readings, and be ready to discuss and debate the issues raised in the readings and lectures. Students will also be required to do a minimum of 5 to 6 or more oral presentations of the day s readings during the semester. These presentations should, as with the response papers, not summarize the readings but critically assess them, and should serve as the departure point for class discussions. Presentation Guidelines: All class presentations should keep to the following guidelines: Limit presentations to 8-10 minutes Summarize the main argument/thesis of the article/chapter Relate the reading to other material in the course/discussions When applicable, relate the reading to current or past events 3 P age

4 Discuss the questions/issues that the article raises (what did the piece contribute?), and raise your own questions about it by way of critique. Please Post your presentation summary/handout on Blackboard s Discussion Board under the appropriate class date/topic by no later than 2:00 pm on class day a summary of the presentation (no less than 500 words) in essay form or a bullet point document. This will be distributed to everyone in class via Blackboard. This is part of your 35% participation grade so make it beautiful please. There will be a sign-up sheet one the first day of the semester. 2. Four Response Papers (20%) 4-5 pages long. These are short essays written in response to a specific discussion question in the syllabus. Though they are short, these essays must have a clearly articulated empirical thesis (i.e., argument) and cite the assigned readings to support this contention. No outside research is necessary. These papers are due on the following dates: 17 th September, 8 th October, 19 th November and 3 rd December. Guidelines for Response papers, which should be 4-5 pages long (double-spaced). They should do the following: a) Highlight the most significant arguments of the author(s) and b) Discuss/analyze them in an informed manner, i.e., informed by other readings, lecture discussions, and your own insights. You should go beyond descriptive accounts in your writing and should demonstrate analytical rigor (analyze analyze!) c) Be well-written and well-edited Specific Guidelines 1. It is acceptable to be selective in discussing the argument (if the chapter/journal article is too long), but there are certain points/arguments that are clearly central to an article/chapter and should be discussed explicitly. 2. Articles often discuss certain concepts/themes and highlight them. These are important concepts/themes that should have been part of any response paper on that article/chapter. 3. Do include page numbers when you refer explicitly to statements, quotations. This should come in handy when preparing for exams. 4. All response papers should have (a) A solid introductory sentence or two, in which you sum up the thesis/argument of the article/chapter you re reading. (b) Then, proceed to fleshing the argument. Here s where you can go into detail. (c) Then, offer your critique and try to relate it to the topic of the course by invoking other readings, lectures, discussions we had. (d) Finally, state what you have learned from the article (one or two sentences) 4 P age

5 PLEASE NOTE: please submit all written assignments listed above to Blackboard by the time class meets i.e. no later than 2:00 pm on the day they are due. 3. Mid-Term: Academic Book Review (20%) due on 15 th October 2015 A short book critique of 6 8 typed pages. This critique is intended to sharpen your critical faculties by thoroughly reviewing, criticizing, and discussing one of the books we are reading for this course. Please see on Blackboard resources to help you write an academic book review. Thank you. 4. Research Paper Proposal Guidelines (5%): You should select your topic by Thursday, 12 th November and submit a one page Research Paper Proposal document via Blackboard that includes (a) an Abstract, (b) the topic/issue you wish to write your paper on, (c) 4-5 preliminary sources (including a minimum of 2 books and 2 academic journal articles), and (d) a brief statement describing your question; why you re interested in writing about that question/theme/topic/case study and what in particular you wish to address. Turning in a clean and reasonable proposal is worth 5% (even if we amend the topic henceforth) 5. Final Research Paper (20%) Due date: Thursday, 17 th December The research paper should be double-spaced pages + bibliography (with 12-point font, not including citations and/or footnotes and a full bibliography) and based on research of sources and material that go well beyond the course readings (including reputable journal articles and books Internet research material is discouraged, for the most part). The earlier you determine your topic, the earlier you can order your books if they are not available at our library. The topic of the paper is to be determined by 12 th November. Students will be encouraged to write papers that address any of the course's themes/topics on a question or topic that relates to the study of Islam and Politics. Please make and support an argument about a question related to an issue, event or problem in Islam and Politics from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. Be sure to employ detailed arguments and empirical evidence. Please counter opposing views! Criteria for grading: how well the paper applies concepts and information from course readings and class materials to other issues or areas pertaining to Islam and Politics; depth and accuracy of theoretical and substantive material utilized; pertinence, clarity, and persuasiveness of arguments; originality of approach; evidence of having read and applied outside scholarly research. Please include a Literature Review section in your paper to review the leading scholarly writings on your topic. Papers must use MLA parenthetical references or Chicago Manual of Style humanities format citations correctly. Grammar, usage, and spelling count please. References and citation: Unless otherwise specified, it is expected that your written work will make proper use of standard academic conventions as regards references and citations. For this class, please 5 P age

6 use citation and referencing system prescribed by the American Political Science Association (which is based on the Chicago Manual of Style) or MLA. For example, this involves in-text parenthetical citations and an accompanying list of references at the end of your paper. Full details of this citation apparatus can be found on pp of the 2006 edition of the APSA Style Manual available at: Please be consistent in the use of one citation style throughout your paper. Thank you. Grading Scale: A+ = ; A = 94-96; A- = 90-93; B+ = 87-89; B= 84-86; B- = 80-83; C+ = 77-79; C = 74-76; C- = 70-73; D+ = 67-69; F = 0-59 Class Communications I will be available 15 minutes before & after class in addition to office hours. Also, I will use as the primary form of communications with you outside of class. I will set up a class list based on your GMU addresses. You are welcome to call me in case of an emergency. Late Assignments: Assignments must be submitted on time and via Blackboard. Failure to turn in an assignment on time is unacceptable except with the prior agreement of the instructor (which will be given only in exceptional circumstances, such as a documented illness or family emergency). Except in documented cases of illness or emergency, a penalty of up to a full letter grade will be assessed for each day the assignment is late. After 7 days (one week) the assignment will not be accepted. George Mason University Honor Code: I take the Honor Code and its enforcement very seriously with a zero tolerance policy. The Honor Code in its entirety can be found in your Student Handbook. All violations of the honor code will be reported to the Honor Committee. Academic Integrity: It is expected that students adhere to the George Mason University Honor Code as it relates to integrity regarding coursework and grades. The Honor Code reads as follows: To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of the George Mason University community and with the desire for greater academic and personal achievement, we, the student members of the University Community have set forth this: Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal and/or lie in matters related to academic work. More information about the Honor Code, including definitions of cheating, lying, and plagiarism, can be found at the Office of Academic Integrity website at 6 P age

7 Students with Disabilities: Students who self-identify and provide sufficient documentation of a qualifying disability are entitled to receive reasonable accommodations, such as modifications of programs, academic adjustments, or auxiliary aides as a means to participate in programs and activities. If you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at (703) All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office. Problems that may arise Please if you are experiencing any problems that are affecting your schoolwork and/or class attendance --- please feel free to meet with me and let us see what we can do to help. I will be glad to listen and assist to help you. There are many available resources. Please do not wait until the end of the semester to inform me that you are dealing with a problem(s) since the beginning of the semester. Let us talk and work on getting you the needed assistance early on in the semester so it does not affect your schoolwork down the road. I am here to help you succeed! Schedule of Topics to be discussed and Reading Assignments [Please note: this schedule is a guide and is subject to change/adjustment based on our discussion needs] 1. Week One: Thursday, 3 rd September 2015 First Day of Class Welcome: introductions, review of class policies, syllabus, readings, expectations, class goals, and assignments. Sign-up list of weekly student presentations (list will be distributed in class) Topic: History/Background Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, pp (chapters 1, 2 & 3) Optional/Suggested Ayoob, M. (2008), The Many Faces of Political Islam (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press), Chapter 1: Defining Concepts, Demolishing Myths Ismail, S. (2004), Is there an Islamic Conception of Politics? in A. Leftwich, ed., What is Politics? (Cambridge: Polity Press), pp Said, E. (1997), Covering Islam, 2 nd edition, (London: Vintage) Chapter 2: Communities of Interpretation, and Chapter 8, The Politics of Interpreting Islam. 7 P age

8 2. Week Two: Thursday, 10 th September 2015 Topic: Islam & Politics Theory & Methodology 1. Charles Hirschkind, "What is Political Islam?" Middle East Report Oct-Dec 1997, pp Salwa Ismail, "The Study of Islamism Revisited" from Rethinking Islamist Politics, London: I.B. Tauris, 2003, pp Peter Mandaville, "Islam and Exceptionalism in American Political Discourse," PS: Political Science and Politics 46:2, April Frédéric Volpi, Introduction: We Have Facts and Data, Political Islam Observed, London: Hurst, 2010, pp Week Three: Thursday, 17 th September 2015 Topic: Islamism and Social Movements 1. Ziad Munson, Islamic Mobilization: Social Movement Theory and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, The Sociological Quarterly 42:4, 2001, pp Quintan Wiktorowicz, Islamic Activism and Social Movement Theory: A New Direction for Research, Mediterranean Politics 7:3, 2002, pp Asef Bayat, Islamism and Social Movement Theory, Third World Quarterly 26:6, 2005, pp Joel Beinin, Political Islam and the New Global Economy: The Political Economy of Islamist Social Movements in Egypt and Turkey, prepared for the conference on French and US Approaches to Understanding Islam France- Stanford Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, September 12-14, 2004 Optional/Recommended: Burke, Edmund and Paul Lubeck, Explaining Social Movements in Two Oil- Exporting States: Divergent Outcomes in Nigeria and Iran. Comparative studies in society and history, (10/1987), 29 (04), p First Response Paper due: Please respond to two of the following questions: Is the understanding of Islam as a religion a Western hegemonic construction? To what extent can we generalize about Islam and politics? Does Islam have a particular/peculiar relationship with politics? What is entailed in Said s critiques of the Orientalist approach to Muslim societies? What are the key streams of contemporary political thought among Muslim thinkers? How have scholars provided different classifications or taxonomies in relation to the types of thinking that exist within political Islam? What contributions has social movement theory made to our understanding of Islamism and what are its weaknesses? 8 P age

9 4. Week Four: Thursday, 24 th September 2015 Topic: The Quran If the Oceans were ink an unlikely friendship and a journey to the heart of the Quran An extraordinary journey in interfaith understanding as Powers debates and discovers the Quran s message, meaning, and values on peace and violence, gender and veiling, religious pluralism and tolerance. 1. Carla Powers, If the Oceans Were Ink An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran, Holt & Company, New York, 2015, pp Week Five: Thursday, 1 st October P age Topic: Post-Islamism the changing faces of Political Islam (Bayat) Changing discourses and practices of Islamist movements and Islamic states in Muslim majority countries. Post-Islamism emphasizes rights rather than obligation, plurality instead of singular authoritative voice, historicity rather than fixed scriptures and the future instead of the past. 1. Asef Bayat (editor), Post-Islamism The Changing Faces of Political Islam, Oxford University Press, 2013, pp Week Six: Thursday, 8 th October 2015 Topic: Authoritarianism, political participation & Islamist adaptation 1. Jillian Schwedler, Democratization, Inclusion and the Moderation of Islamist Parties, Development, Society for International Development, 50:1, 2007, pp Carrie Wickham, The Path to Moderation: Strategy and Learning in the Formation of Egypt s Wasat Party, Comparative Politics 26:2, 2004, pp Vali Nasr, The Rise of Muslim Democracy, Journal of Democracy 16:2, Shadi Hamid, Temptations of Power: Islamists & Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East, New York: Oxford University Press, Second Response Paper Due Today: Please answer a combination of two or three of the following questions: In which ways is Islam compatible with democracy? Is democracy useful for the Muslim world? Do Muslims desire democracy? What have historically been the obstacles to democratization in the Muslim world? What intellectual resources in the Islamic tradition can Muslim democrats draw upon? Is a religious democracy conceivable? Which preconceptions about the Muslim world has the Arab Spring challenged? How have Islamist positions changed after the Arab Spring? [You might need to consult the readings for the last class for the last two questions]

10 7. Week Seven: Thursday, 15 th October Topic: Case Studies Iran 1. Theda Skocpol, Rentier State and Shi a Islam in the Iranian Revolution, Theory and Society, Vol. 11, Misagh Parsa, Ideology and Political Action in the Iranian Revolution, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Vol. 31, No. 1, Said Arjomand, The Reform Movement and the Debate on Modernity and Tradition in Contemporary Iran, International Journal of Middle East Studies 34:4, Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, Chapter 5:pp Optional/Recommended: 5. Charles Kurzman, The Arab Spring: Ideals of the Iranian Green Movement, Methods of the Iranian Revolution. International journal of Middle East studies. (02/2012), 44 (01), p Charles Kurzman, The Unthinkable Revolution in Iran. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, Mid-Term Academic Book Review due today: Over the course of the semester we will read several books. Please choose one and write a critical analysis in the form of a traditional academic book review. Please see the how to write a book review resources available on Blackboard. 8. Week Eight: Thursday, 22 nd October 2015 Topic: Case Studies Islam in Africa: Nigeria 1. Council on Foreign Relations Backgrounder: Boko Haram by Mohammed Aly Sergie and Toni Johnson, March 5, Maiangwa, Baptism by Fire : Boko Haram and the Reign of Terror in Nigeria. Africa today. (2012), 59 (2), p Kendhammer, Brandon, Islam and the Language of Human Rights in Nigeria: Rights Talk and Religion in Domestic Politics. Journal of human rights. (10/2013), 12 (4), p Reynolds, Jonathan, Good and Bad Muslims: Islam and Indirect Rule in Northern Nigeria. The International journal of African historical studies. (2001), 34 (3), p P age

11 5. Adesoji, Between Maitatsine and Boko Haram: Islamic Fundamentalism and the Response of the Nigerian State. Africa today. (2011), 57 (4), p Recommended/Optional/Reference 1) Ostien, Philip, Jamila M. Nasir, Franz Kogelmann, eds. Comparative Perspectives on Shari ah in Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectrum Books. Ltd ) Robinson, David. Muslim Societies in African History. Cambridge University Press, ) Soares, Benjamin F. and René Otayek, eds. Islam and Muslim Politics in Africa. New York:Palgrave/Macmillan, ) Sharia Debates in Africa: 9. Week Nine: Thursday, 29 th October Topic: Case Studies Egypt and The Muslim Brotherhood 1. Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, Chapter 4: pp Carrie R. Wickham, The Muslim Brotherhood Evolution of an Islamist Movement, Princeton University Press, 2013 [ISBN: Week Ten: Thursday, 12 th November Topic: Turkey and the AKP 1. Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, Chapter 4: pp Mustafa Akyol, Islam Without Extremes A Muslim Case for Liberty, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2013, pp [ISBN: ] Final Research Paper Proposal due today 11. Week Eleven: Thursday, 19 th November Topic: Case Studies Pakistan 1. Haroon Ullah, Vying for Allah s Vote: Understanding Islamic Parties, Political Violence, and Extremism in Pakistan, Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, Chapter 5: pp P age

12 Third Response Paper Due Today: Please answer one of the following questions: 1. Analyze and explain the interface of Islam and politics in a country we have not covered in detail in class, identifying relevant comparative angles with other cases and theories we have explored; or 2) Compare the role of religion in politics in a Muslim-majority country to a country in which a different religious tradition is dominant. 12. Week Twelve: Thursday, 26 th November no class Happy Thanksgiving 13. Week Thirteen: Thursday, 3 rd December Topic: Radical Islamism: Al-Qaeda and ISIS 1. Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, pp Quintan Wiktorowicz, A genealogy of radical Islam, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 28:2, 2005, pp Asef Bayat, Radical Religion and the Habitus of the Dispossessed: Does Islamic Militancy Have an Urban Ecology? International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 31:3, 2007, pp Lina Khatib, The Islamic State s Strategy - Lasting and Expanding, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2015 Optional yet recommended: 1. Jessica Stern and J. M. Berger, ISIS: The State of Terror, Ecco; First Edition (March 12, 2015) [ISBN: ] 2. Graeme Wood, What ISIS Really Wants, The Atlantic Monthly, March Dekmejian, R.H. (1989), Islamic Revival: Catalysts, Categories and Consequences, in S. Hunter (ed.), The Politics of Islamic Revivalism (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press), pp Hrair Dekmejian, The Anatomy of Islamic Revival: Legitimacy Crisis, Ethnic Conflict and the Search for Islamic Alternatives, Middle East Journal, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Winter, 1980), pp Fourth Response Paper Due: Please answer one of the following questions: 1) What is implied by the term fundamentalism and how well does this apply to the Islamists? What is the conceptual and practical difference between radicalism and extremism? 2) How do we differentiate between Islamism and political Islam? How do we best 12 P age

13 understand the Islamic revival: in terms of ideology, class politics or identity politics? 3) Is the term jihadism a meaningful signifier of a particular stream of Islamism? How has al-qaida evolved ideologically since its inception? What kind of reading of history enabled the development of militant thought? 4) How has globalization helped the new global current of Jihadism? What is the relationship between transnational militant actors and state actors? Is al-qaeda and/or ISIS an anarchist organization? Does al-qaeda and/or ISIS act in the name of God or in the name of the umma? Why is this distinction important? 14. Week Fourteen: Thursday, 10 th December 2015 [Last Class] Topic: Conclusion The Arab Uprisings & Beyond; The Future of Islam & Democracy? 1. Ewan Stein, Studying Islamism after the Arab Spring, Mediterranean Politics 19:1, Various authors, Rethinking Islamist Politics, Washington DC: Project on Middle East Political Science (POMEPS), Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, New York & London: Routledge, 2nd edition, 2014, pp Recommended/Optional: 4. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na`im, Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari`a Paperback April 29, 2010, Harvard University Press (March 30, 2010) [ISBN: ] Final Paper due on: Thursday, 17 th December Thank you! And welcome on this learning journey together into the world of Islam and Politics ever changing, diverse, and quite multi-faceted 13 P age

14 Additional Resources: Armstrong, Karen. Islam: a short history. London: Phoenix, Print. Bayat, Asef. Making Islam democratic: social movements and the post-islamist turn. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, Print. Beinin, Joel and Joe Stork, (editors), Political Islam, University of CA, Berkeley, 1997 Brown, Nathan J. When victory is not an option: Islamist movements in Arab politics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, Print. Esack, Farid. The Qurʼan: a user's guide: a guide to its key themes, history and interpretation. Oxford: Oneworld, Esposito, John, Islam and Politics, Syracuse University Press, 1998 Ḥarūb, Khālid. Political Islam: context versus ideology. London: Saqi In association with London Middle East Institute, SOAS, Kepel, Gilles. Jihad: the trail of political Islam. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, Print. Lewis, Bernard. The political language of Islam. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Piscatori, James and Eickelman, Dale, Muslim Politics, Princeton University press, 1996 Roy, Olivier. Globalized Islam: the search for a new Ummah. New York: Columbia University Press, Naʻīm, ʻAbdulliahi. Toward an Islamic reformation: civil liberties, human rights, and international law. Syracuse, N.Y: Syracuse University Press, Volpi, Frédéric. Political Islam observed: disciplinary perspectives. New York: Columbia University Press, Print. Jadaliyya - MERIP - Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World available through library Oxford Islamic Studies Online database: GMU s Ali Vural Ak Center for Islamic Studies: 14 P age

15 The New York Times - Foreign Policy Scholarly, Peer Reviewed Journals in Islamic Studies ( For scholars in all fields of study in the Western world, peer reviewed journals are those of higher quality. While there are numerous journals dealing with Islam, many of these are not peer reviewed and often represent the views of the organization that publishes the journal, and so the overall scholarly quality of the articles in such journals may be quite low. In contrast, peer reviewed journals have a board of editors consisting of established scholars who in principle accept or reject articles on the basis of their scholarly merits. Although of course the biases of the members of the editorial board play a certain role in determining which articles are accepted for publication, nevertheless the criteria for the inclusion of such articles are generally those of the academic field itself. Hence articles published in peer reviewed journals are regarded more highly by the scholarly community, especially in the West. Consequently, important research in any field of study is published in peer reviewed journals. This is important for scholars who wish to call scholarly attention to their work or impact the field and is especially significant for younger scholars who need to establish their credibility for the simple practical reason of obtaining a teaching/research position and later tenure (a secured position) at a university. What follows is a preliminary list of such journals that have websites: Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies Edited by Joseph N. Bell, et al. Journal of Qur'anic Studies, published biannually by Edinburgh University Press, includes articles in English and Arabic (link fixed 18 March 2006). The Muslim World (link fixed 18 August 2005) Edited by Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi', Hartford Seminary. Journal of Islamic Studies Edited by Farhan Ahmed Nizami, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Der Islam covering the history and culture of the Islamic Orient. The scholarly journal of the German Orientalist Society, edited by Jürgen Paul, comprised of articles in German and English. Die Welt des Islams (link fixed 18 August 2005): International journal for the study of modern Islam (from the 18th century on), edited by Stefan Wild, Werner Ende, and Michael Ursinus, published by Brill, and comprised of articles in English, French, and German. Unfortunately the web page for this journal is limited and does not include important information such as where prospective contributors should send their articles. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS) (link fixed 18 August 2005) published by the Association of Muslim Social Sciences (AMSS) and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), this journal endeavors to link Muslim intellectuals and scholars worldwide. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, edited by John Esposito and David Thomas. 15 P age

16 Journal of the History of Sufism edited by Thierry Zarcone, Ekrem Isin, Arthur Buehler. Transcendent Philosophy, a publication of the Institute of Islamic Studies, London, editor in chief, Seyed G. Safavi. (Link fixed, January 4, 2002; 18 March 2006.) A large list of scholarly journals (some of which have websites) dealing with Islamic law, the Middle East, and Islam is located at the website of CIMEL (Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law). Academic Islamic Studies Websites In addition to the Islam and Islamic Studies Resources website of Prof. Godlas (at the University of Georgia), there are a number of other academic web sites for the study of Islam: Islamic Area Studies Project at the University of Tokyo. Islamic Studies Pathways, compiled by Prof. Gary R. Bunt of the University of Wales, Lampeter, this site briefly describes and evaluates sites useful for students of Islam. IslamWeb a project of professors Carl Ernst and Charles Kurzman at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. (As of 2 April 2006, this page was last updated in April 2001.) Carolina, Duke, Emory Institute for the Study of Islam (CDEKISI) is a cooperative project sponsoring, among other things, seminar presentations at each of the participating institutions. (As of 2 April 2006, this site does not appear to have been updated since 2003.) Yale University Islamic Studies Program WRITING Guidelines: The George Mason University Writing Center: University Writing Center Offers both in-person and online writing assistance for students, including online writing guides, reference guides, and style manuals. Additionally, the Writing Center provides assistance to faculty who are interested in holding in-class writing workshops, developing effective writing assignments, or evaluating students writing. Tips & Handouts: **Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA) makes available to you an online guide to Writing in Public and International Affairs and you are encouraged to familiarize yourself with its content and follow its suggestions. You can find the guide at: It is not acceptable to cite Wikipedia as an academic source. 16 P age

17 Please include a bibliography/list of references at the end of your research paper and Movement/Group/Political Party Profile If you would like to send me via your draft outline for the longer research paper I will be glad to review it and give you some feedback. Please use the Chicago citation Style, with in-text citations and an accompanying list of references at the end of your paper. A quick guide to this system is available at: Please check out the following: (reference for the following information) What Are Professors Grading in Your Essays? Central Idea Coherence Integration Organization What Mistakes Should Writers Avoid? Forgetting the Reader/Audience Use of Personal Opinions Too Much Description Common Grammar Errors Weak Paragraph Transitions 17 P age