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History 377Islamic Radicalism and Revolution: Religious Movements in the Modern Middle EastRudi MattheeFall 2006TTh 2:00-3:15 Gore Hall 208
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For printable syllabus in Word Format.
Lecture series
This course will explore the contexts, dynamics, structures, and ideologies of a number of Islamic movements that have arisen since 1700 in the Middle East portion (including India and West Africa) of the Islamic world. Rather than attempting to be all-inclusive, it intends to provide a historical framework for a better understanding of the modern expression of Islamic “fundamentalism,”—and, by extension, of the recent manifestations of terrorism-- on the basis of a number of examples in the past as well as in the present.
As all Islamic “fundamentalist” movements invoke the “ideal” society of early Islam, the course will begin with a summary overview of those elements within the Islamic tradition that are important for an understanding of reform and revival movements. The notion of “decline,” to which these movements tend to be a self-conscious response, will be examined both as part of the customary western perception of Islam and as part of the Muslim self-view.
We will begin our historical survey by considering a number of such movements in the 18th century that coincided with the beginnings of European political intrusion but did not necessarily occur in response to it. Looking at jihad movements in Arabia, Sumatra, and West Africa, we will attempt to detect common features--related to overall political, socioeconomic and religious trends--as well as unique traits, rooted in a specific context.
A similar attempt will be undertaken in the exploration of 19th and early 20th-century reformist Islam, which occurred as western imperialism gained momentum, secular nationalism emerged as a political credo, and the material backwardness of the Middle East became painfully apparent. We will look at a number of responses to these developments, ranging from the reform attempts by Jamal al-din al-Afghani and Mohammad `Abduh, via the formulation of the ideology of pan-Islamism, to the missionary movement of the Muslim Brotherhood.
We will then examine the expressions of Islamic “revivalism” as they have manifested themselves since 1967, the year of the crushing Arab defeat by Israel. Studying the ideologues of this latest wave, Mawdudi, Sayyid Qutb, and `Ali Shari`ati, we will gain an understanding of their discourse, the symbols they invoke and the goal to which they aspire, and thus of their popular appeal. The focus of our attention in examining the social basis and political context of the current manifestation of radicalism will be the Iranian Islamic Revolution and the Egyptian experience of the 1980sand 1990s.
The final part of the course will be devote to an exploration of the direct causes of current manifestations of Islamic radicalism, especially during and following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with a focus on Hamas in Palestine-Israel, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and the al-Qa’eda movement led by Osama bin Laden.
Required readings
Malise Ruthven, A Very Short Introduction to Islam. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1997.
David Cook, Understanding Jihad. Berkeley: University of California Prss, 2005.
Fawaz A. Gerges, The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Research tools: (all in the reference section of the library)
The Encyclopedia of Islam. Excellent resource on all aspects of Islam and Middle Eastern history.
Encyclopaedia Iranica. Only up to the letter i.
The Encyclopedia of Religion.
Exams and Papers
1) Papers for Discussion: Each student will write two essays over the course of the semester analyzing the assigned readings for a given week. These papers are intended as interpretive “think pieces” to stimulate class discussion and, as a result, should be short (no longer than 3-4 pages) and incisive. The first one will be assigned on Oct. 5—due on Oct. 10; the second on 12—due on Oct. 17. These will fulfill the “midterm” requirement.
2) Final Examination: There will be a two-hour in-class final exam as scheduled for this course. The final will cover the material presented during the entire semester, though the emphasis will be on the modern period.
3) Research paper: A 12-15 page term paper, based on a historical topic of your own choice and relevant to the topic, approved by Prof. Rudi Matthee, is due on or before Nov. 28. You should have a one-page outline of the proposed topic ready by Nov. 2 to present for approval. Honor students will be asked to write a more elaborate research paper, comprising 20 pages.
4) Class participation: Students are urged to attend all class meetings, are expected to have completed the assigned readings before class, and must be prepared to contribute to discussions of the assigned readings and the material presented in class.
All work must be done on time; no incompletes are given except in cases of major disaster.
Grades in the course will be based on the following:
1. Midterm examination (20%)
2. Final examination (30%)
3. Term paper (40%)
4. Class attendance (10%)
and participation
Lecture Schedule
Week One and Two (Aug. 29-Sept. 5) (No class on Sept. 7).
Lecteu topic: Introduction: Beginnings and principles of Islam
Readings:
Ruthven: A Very Short Introduction to Islam.
Cook: pp. 1-72
Week Three (Sept. 12-14: 18th-19th-Century Reform and Revival Movements
Readings:
Keddie, “The Revolt of Islam, 1700 to 1993” (reserve).
Cook, pp. 72-93
Davison, “Turkish Attitudes Concerning Christian-Muslim Equality” (reserve).
Week Four (Sept. 19-21): The Twentieth Century: Islamist Alternatives to Modernity and Secular Nationalism
Readings:
Lewis: “The Revolt of Islam” (reserve).
Y. Haddad, “Islamists and the ‘Problem of Israel’” (reserve).
Week Five (Sept. 26-28): Egypt until 1981
Readings:
Cook, pp. 93-127
E. Sivan, “Ibn Taymiyya” (reserve).
Najjar, “The Debate on Islam and Secularism in Egypt” (reserve).
Goldberg, “Behind Mubarak” (reserve).
Week Six and Seven (Oct. 3-12): Iran and Its Revolution
Readings:
Documentary: “The Shah”
Readings:
Roy: “The Crisis of Legitimacy in Iran” (reserve).
Nasr, “Don’t Hold your Breath” (reserve)
Week Eight (Oct. 17-19): Palestine: The Intifada
Documentary: “The Sword of Islam”
Readings:
Week Nine (Oct. 24-26): Egypt
Readings:
Gerges, pp. 1-128
Cook, pp. 128-168
El-Ghobashy, “The Metamorphosis of the Egyptian Muslim Brotehrs.”
Week Ten (Oct. 31-Nov. 1): Osama bin Laden and al-Qa’eda
Documentaries: “The Saudi Time Bomb.”
Readings:
Gerges, pp. 119-275
Zakaria “Why Do They Hate Us?” (reserve).
Bradley, “Ticking Time Bombs”
Karmon, “Al-Qa’ida and the War on Terror after the War in Iraq” (web).
Week Eleven: (Nov. 7-9): Iraq and the Shi`i Crescent
Readings:
Gerges, pp. 251-276
Porteous, “Reading Iran” (web)
Lelyveld, “All Suicide Bombers Are not Alike.”
“Hizballah: A Primer” (web)
Avnery, “America’s Rottweiler”
Nasr, “When the Shiites Rise.”
Week Twelve: (Nov. 14-16): Assessment: Islamic Fundamentalism: Failure or Future?
Readings:
Sullivan, “This is a Religious War” (reserve).
Sivan, “Why Radical Muslims Aren’t Taking Over Governments” (reserve).
Spyer, “Failure and Longevity: The Dominant Order in the Middle East (web)
Özdalga, “The Hidden Arab” (reserve).
Caldwell, “After Londonistan.” (reserve).
Week Thirteen and Fourteen: (Nov. 28-Dec. 5): Women and the Islamic Revival
Documentaries: “A Veiled Revolution.”
“Veiled Appearances”
Readings:
Mir-Hosseini, “Women and Politics in Post-Khomeini Iran.”
Shavarini, “Wearing the Veil to College.”
Zoepf, “Women Lead an Islamic Revival in Syria.”