History and Politics of North Africa and the Middle East
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course will address the evolution of Islamic political doctrine, with a focus on contemporary phenomena such as that of jihadism, salafism, political Islam, post-Islamism, and the relationship between oppositional Islamic parties and government across a range of settings. These themes will be analysed by looking at how local contexts, analysed through an historical lens, intersect with trans-regional phenomena triggered by the new media and migration. The students will thus acquire an advanced understanding of the relationship between Islam and politics in the contemporary MENA region.
Expected learning outcomes
By studying the most relevant events of North African and Middle eastern history, students will acquire an awarenesss of the origins of currents events in a crucial area of the world and will be enabled to comprehend and critically analyse them.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Teaching/presentations via MT and final oral exam via MT
Course syllabus
After summarising the early history of Islam, the differences between sunnism and shiism, the emergence of Islamic revivalism, and that of political Islam, the course will analyse the relationship between political power and religious authority in the contemporary Middle East, with a focus on Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia; the political discourse of Al-Qaeda; the differences between al-Qaeda and ISIS; sectarianism vs. sectarianization; the Arab Springs; the local and regional causes of recent and ongoing conflicts in this part of the world.
Prerequisites for admission
-
Teaching methods
Lectures and students' presentations
Teaching Resources
Non attending students: P.Mandaville, Islam and politics, Routledge, 2020 ( online on Minerva), except pp. 164-196, 286-317, 377-383. 396-407, cap. 9. All boxes are also excluded.
Attending students: presentation in class and parts of P.Mandaville, Islam and politics, Routledge, 2020 (3rd edition, online on Minerva) to be agreed upon depending on the topic of the presentation.
Attending students: presentation in class and parts of P.Mandaville, Islam and politics, Routledge, 2020 (3rd edition, online on Minerva) to be agreed upon depending on the topic of the presentation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam with the aim of assessing the knowledge of the themes dealt with by the programme, the capacity to interpret them in a critical manner and to espouse them with an adequate terminology. Attending students are given the opportunity to decide whether they want to sit for an oral or a written exam, and their participation in class discussions will be taken into consideration.
SPS/14 - ASIAN HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Giunchi Elisa Ada
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 4,15 PM-6 PM
Room 9, Floor 1 (Via Conservatorio)