Religion and Politics in the Middle East

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture) This course examines the relationship between religion and politics in the contemporary Middle East. Class readings cover a wide variety of Middle Eastern states such as Turkey, Israel, Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq. Key topics covered in the course include religion-based political movements, the place of religion in regional struggles over democracy and human rights, the place of religion in sectarian and ethnic conflicts, and the role of women in regional debates over religion. Attention is given to relevant current events affecting the contemporary Middle East.