Religion and Politics in the Middle East

4.0 credits

This course explores the role of religion in the politics of the Middle East. It examines the origins, evolution, and potential future of political Islam in the region. The course begins by introducing students to key concepts and terms necessary for understanding contemporary Middle Eastern politics and political discourse. The second part focuses on the key issues from the late 19th century through to the Arab Spring, such as the emergence of constitutionalism, Arab nationalism, the rise of Islamism, the debate on Islam’s compatibility with liberal democracy, and the concept of post-Islamism. The third part of the course illustrates these theoretical discussions with four corresponding case studies which provide insight into the trajectories of political Islam in Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt.