Instructor: Damir Kovačević Office Location: Hibbard 415 Email: kovaced@uwec.edu Phone: 715-836-2650 Political Islam Department of Political Science University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Spring 2017 Course Description: This course introduces students to the study of political Islam through a multi-faceted approach including history, ideology, and the political practices of individuals, movements, political parties and institutions, and states. To understand how Islam and politics are related, the following issues and questions will be raised: What is political Islam? What is the relationship between democracy and Islam? What about Islam and women? Lastly, how does political Islam operate in the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western world? These questions will be answered by examining case studies around the world to give students a better understanding of the empirical and theoretical arguments in the study of political Islam. Required Texts: John L. Esposito and Emad El-Din Shahin, The Oxford Handbook of Islam and Politics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013). Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics 2 nd. Edition (New York: Routledge, 2014). Scholarly journal articles will also be posted on D2L. It is the student s responsibility to have the articles read before each assigned class period. General Information: Students are expected to have their readings done before each class period. Students are also encouraged to check their email daily, along with the course D2L page for announcements, grading, and other relevant information provided by the instructor. Late work will not be accepted. If the student has a situation that requires a make-up quiz or exam, he/she should notify the instructor in advance. If a medical or personal issue arises, students should notify the instructor upon their earliest convenience and proper accommodation will be given. Classroom Etiquette: Students are expected to arrive and be prepared for each class on time. Cell phones should be silenced during class. If a student is expecting an important phone call, he/she should notify the instructor before class. Laptops are allowed for note taking purposes and accessing the readings (if the student does not print them), provided they do not become overly distracting. Most importantly, respect for the instructor and all other students is expected always. This means that 1
students are encouraged and expected to actively participate and share their views in a respectful, professional, and academic manner suitable for the classroom. Grading Scale: A: 100-90% B: 89-80% C: 79-70% D: 69-60% F: 59% and below Grading: Midterm Exam: 25% Final Exam: 30% Seminar Presentations: 20% (10% x 2) Response Papers: 10% (5% x 2) Participation: 15% Exams: A midterm and final exam will be given in the course. The midterm will cover the information in the first half of the class, while the final will cover the second half of the class. Both exams will be take-home and students will have a week to complete the exam. Seminar Presentation: Each student will lead two 12-minute seminar discussions on a week s assigned readings. The student will be responsible for answering the question posed for that day, as well as facilitate discussion afterwards. Response Papers: Each student will need to complete two response papers one before the midterm and one before the final that are worth 5% each. The response papers should be between 750-1,000 words and they should address one of the questions posed for that week. Participation: Participation is a significant portion of the class. As an upper-level course, attendance is always expected, as is participation. More than two missed classes will result in a 5% participation deduction for each class after. Students are also expected to have completed all reading assignments before class, and be prepared to discuss the day s readings accordingly. In general, relevant in-class participation will be evaluated per the following scale: A = regular and thoughtful participation (90-100) B = occasional and thoughtful participation (80-90) C = regular attendance, but little or no participation (70-80) D/F = less than regular attendance and little or no participation (<70) Attendance Policy: As per University regulations, attendance at all classes is compulsory. Students who have a compelling reason to miss class must inform me at the earliest possible occasion. Attendance will be taken throughout the semester and will be reflected in the participation grade awarded to each student at the end of the course. With that said, students are allowed 2 unexcused absences throughout the semester. More than two missed unexcused classes will result in a 5% participation deduction for each class after. 2
Academic Honesty: Students work is to be their own, and no one else s. Any incorporation of anyone else s ideas or words into your own work must be attributed to the original source. Any transgression of academic honesty, as defined in the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Student Services and Standards Handbook (http://www.uwec.edu/sdd/publication.htm) in the section titled, Chapter UWS 14 Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures, will result in penalties up to and including failure of the course. Students with Disabilities: Any student who has a documented disability and is in need of classroom accommodations, may contact me and the Services for Students with Disabilities Office in Centennial Hall 2106 at the beginning of the semester. Course Schedule Week 1: Introduction January 17 (T) Class introduction and syllabus overview January 19 (Th) Presentation overview and sign-up Week 2: Political Islam January 24 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 1-27. Mohammed Ayoob, Political Islam: Image and Reality, World Policy Journal, vol. 21, no. 3 (2004): 1-14. Question: What is political Islam and why do we study it? January 26 (Th) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 28-63. Khaled Abou El Fadl, The Shari ah, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 7-26. Question: What are the ideological foundations and origins of political Islam? Week 3: Islam and State Power I: Iran January 31 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 245-268. William O. Beeman, Iran s Islamic Republic, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 399-410. Question: What is an Islamic state? What are the defining features of an Iranian Islamic state? 3
February 2 (Th) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 245-268. Theda Skocpol, Rentier State and Shi a Islam in the Iranian Revolution, Theory and Society, vol. 11, no. 3 (1982): pp. 265-283. Question: What were the social and political/ideological underpinnings of the Iranian Revolution of 1979? Week 4: Islam and State Power II: Saudi Arabia February 7 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 207-229. Natana J. Delong-Bas, Islam and Power in Saudi Arabia, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 411-422. Question: What are the defining features of a Saudi Islamic State? February 9 (Th) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 207-229. Toby Matthiesen, The Domestic Sources of Saudi Foreign Policy: Islamists and the State in the Wake of the Arab Spring, Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institute, 2015): pp. 1-12. Question: How has Islam figured in the foreign policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Week 5: Islam and State Power III: Pakistan February 14 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 229-245. Farahnaz Ispahani, The Problem with Pakistan s Democracy, Foreign Policy (2013): 1-10. Question: Are constitutional provisions sufficient to make a state Islamic? In which sense is Pakistan an Islamic Republic? February 16 (Th) Kamran Bokhari, Jama At-I Islami in Pakistan, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 574-586. Husain Haqqani, Islamists and Democracy: Cautions from Pakistan, Journal of Democracy, vol. 24, no. 2 (2013): 5-14. Question: In what ways does the Jamaat-e-Islami influence Pakistani politics? Why have they not found a broader appeal among Pakistani masses? 4
Week 6: Islam and Democracy I: Turkey February 21 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 162-174. Ibrahim Kalin, The AK Party in Turkey, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 423-439. Question: What are the characteristics of Muslim democracy? Has Turkey successfully fused Islam and democracy? February 23 (Th) Ibrahim Kalin, The AK Party in Turkey, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 423-439. Ahmet Kuru, Assertive Secularism and the Islamic Challenge, in Secularism and State Policies Toward Religion (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009): pp. 162-201. Question: What is the tension between secularism and Islam in Turkey? What type of relationship exists in Turkey in regards to religion and the state (separation of church and state)? Week 7: Islam and Democracy II: Indonesia February 28 (T) Saiful Mujani and R. William Liddle, Muslim Indonesia s Secular Democracy, Asian Survey, vol. 49, no. 4 (2009): pp. 575-590. Kikue Hamayotsu, The Political Rise of the Prosperous Justice Party in Post- Authoritarian Indonesia, Asian Survey, vol. 51, no. 5 (2011): 971-992 Question: How has the state incorporated Islam and national identity in the case of Indonesia? March 2 (Th) Vali Nasr, The Rise of Muslim Democracy, Journal of Democracy, vol. 16, no. 1 (2005): pp. 13-27. Andree Feillard, Nahdlatul Ulama in Indonesia, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 558-573. Question: What are the fundamental differences between Islam and democracy in Indonesia as compared to Turkey? Is one a better model for a Muslim democracy? Week 8: Midterm Exam March 7 (T) No Class (work on midterm exam) March 9 (Th) Midterm Due in class and D2L dropbox 5
Week 9: Islam and Radicalism I: Al-Qaeda and Taliban March 14 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 328-354 Jason Burke, Al-Qaida and Its Affiliates, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 630-642. Question: Is the term jihadism a meaningful signifier of a particular stream of Islamism? How has Al-Qaeda evolved ideologically since its inception? March 16 (Th) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 304-324. Ahmed Rashid, The Taliban: Exporting Extremism, Foreign Policy, vol. 78, no. 6 (1999): 22-35. Question: What events and social contexts have shaped and animated the religious and political consciousness of the Taliban? Week 10: Spring Break No Class Week 11: Islam and Radicalism II: Hamas and Hezbollah March 28 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 270-304. Beverley Milton-Edwards, Hamas in the Palestinian Territories, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 505-515. Question: How can we account for the popular support of Hamas? How do they balance militant strategies with social incentives? March 30 (Th) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 270-304. Bassel F. Salloukh and Shoghig Mikaelian, Hizbullah in Lebanon, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 516-531. Question: How can we account for the popular support of Hezbollah? How do they balance militant strategies with social incentives? 6
Week 12: Islam and the Arab Spring I: Egypt April 4 (T) Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 89-108; 134-159. Eric Trager, The Unbreakable Muslim Brotherhood: Grim Prospects for a Liberal Egypt, Foreign Affairs, vol. 90, no. 5 (2011): 114-126. Question: What features of the political environment facilitated the evolution and expansion of the Muslim Brotherhood? April 6 (Th) Tarek Masoud, The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 475-502. Kamran Bokhari, Jama At-I Islami in Pakistan, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 574-586. Question: In what ways does the Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan differ from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt? Are there key differences when it comes to organizational development and social bases? Week 13: Islam and the Arab Spring II: Tunisia April 11 (T) Alfred Stepan and Juan J. Linz, Democratization Theory and the Arab Spring, Journal of Democracy, vol. 24, no. 2 (2013): pp. 15-30. Lisa Anderson, Demystifying the Arab Spring: Parsing the Differences between Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, Foreign Affairs, vol. 90, no. 3 (2011): pp. 2-7. Question: What explains Tunisia s success during the Arab Spring as opposed to other states in the region? April 13 (Th) Michael J. Totten, David Schenker, and Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Arab Spring or Arab Winter? Three Views, World Affairs, vol. 174, no. 5 (2012): pp. 23-42. Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics (New York: Routledge Press, 2014): pp. 400-418. Question: Is it more accurate to call the uprisings an Arab Spring or Arab Winter? What do the uprisings suggest about the prospects of democracy in the Arab World? 7
Week 14: Islam and the West: The United States and France April 18 (T) Samuel Huntington, The Clash of the Civilizations, Foreign Affairs, vol. 72, no. 3 (1993): pp. 22-49. Alfred Stepan, Religion, Democracy, and the Twin Tolerations, Journal of Democracy, vol. 11, no. 4 (2000): pp. 37-57. Question: Are Islam and democracy compatible? April 20 (Th) Ahmet Kuru, Passive and Assertive Secularism: Historical Conditions, Ideological Struggles, and State Policies toward Religion, World Politics, vol. 59, no. 4 (2007): 568-594. Sophie Body-Gendrot, France Upside Down over a Head Scarf? Sociology of Religion, vol. 68, no. 3 (2007): 289-304 Question: What are the key differences between the United States and France in accommodating Muslim minorities into society? Week 15: Islam and Women April 25 (T) Margot Badran, Islam and Gender, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Islam (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013): pp. 112-123. Margot Badran, Understanding Islam, Islamism, and Islamic Feminism, Journal of Women s History, vol. 13, no. 1 (2001): 47-52. Question: Is the term Islamic feminism an oxymoron? April 27 (Th) What Is the Future of Women in Islam? Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kazjllvlu8 Questions: What is the future of women in Islam? Week 16: Conclusion May 2 (T) Review May 4 (Th) No class (work on final exam) Week 17: Final Exam (1:00-3:00PM in Goodwin 313) May 9 (T) Turn in exams and enjoy the class potluck! 8