Rel Amg Mus Stes:Cnflct Coptn

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Muslims believe that they form a single community united by their faith without any consideration for differences of race and ethnicity. In theory, this should have led Muslims to form a single political entity and to desist from conflict among themselves. The reality , however, has been different as divisions have appeared among Muslims as early as the immediate aftermath of the prophet's death. Muslim history has also been marked by rivalries and conflicts involving different Muslim empires and dynasties and later modern Muslim state. Muslim relations even today is marked more by conflict than cooperation. Yet, the idea of Muslims as a single community, and hence the necessity of cooperation and even unity among them has not disappeared. This situation has given Muslim relations a contradictory quality characterized by both conflict and cooperation. This course will examine the factors which have led to divisions within Muslims as well as the forces which have contributed to more cooperative relations among them and the formation of intra-Muslim institutions, notably the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Islamic Development bank and others.