POLI 337:Intro to Islamic Extremism
Dr. Suheir Daoud
Contact Information
Office: BRTH 355
Office Tel.: 843- 349-6513
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00, F: 1:00 pm-2:00 pm,or by appointment.
CLASS ROOM --
E-MAIL: sdaoud@ coastal.edu
Catalog Description
POLI 337 (3)(Prerequisite: POLI 101 Or RELG 322) Through careful readings of the works of some of the most prominent Islamist thinkers of the 20th century and today, this course will examine the conditions that give rise to Islamism, Jihadi violence, and terrorism. The course will additionally discuss the circumstances behind the rise of the largest Jihadi groups, namely ISIS, and these groups' influences on global politics.F,S,Su.
Students Learning Objectives
1.To develop a greater understanding of the reasons behind politicizing Islam in Modern times
2.To read texts of notable Islamist scholars, familiarizing themselves with different interpretations of the texts and of contested concepts such as “Jihad.”
3.To better understand the historical and theoretical context of the emergence of Islam as a political force and ideology.
4.To become familiar with some of today’s most notable Jihadi groups.
Students Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
1.Draw a distinction between Muslims in general and Islamists as part of understanding Islam beyond media assumptions.
2.Articulate the teachings of Islam and differentiate between Muslim and Islamist groups.
3.Recognize the motives of radical and terrorist Islamist groups and the reasons behind their emergence.
Grading Scale:A = 90-100
B+ = 88-89
B = 80-87
C+ = 78-79
C = 70-78
D+ = 68-69
D = 60-67
F = 59 and below
- Course Requirements
Your grade will be based on the following components:
Three Tests 60%
Presentation 10%
Paper 1 10%
Reading Reflections 20%
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Total 100%
Exams: There are three non-accumulative exams. The exams will cover material included in the assigned reading and class lectures. Each exam will only include material covered up to each exam date. All students are expected to take the exams on the assigned dates.
***THERE ARE NO MAKE UP EXAMS IN THIS COURSE
The readings and the assignments are tentative and I might need to adjust them to take into account the sudden events in the ME or the international events that relate to our course.
ATTENDANCE:
Participation is a key aspect of this course. Students will be evaluated on the basis of attendance and active participation in class discussions.
Coastal Carolina University policy stipulates that “An instructor is permitted to impose a penalty, including assigning the grade of F, for unexcused absences in excess of 25% of the regularly scheduled class meetings.” Attendance will be taken, and unexcused absences in excess of 25% of our class meetings will result in a failing grade, no matter what your actual performance in the course happens to be.
Late Assignments:All assignments are expected on the due date by the time set in Moodle. No late assignments will be accepted without instructor permission for extenuating circumstances. Please contact me immediately if you have any concerns or problems (I will deduct ONE point every day of late submission. After one week late the grade will be a ZERO.)
Students who are representing the University in an athletic or academic competition may be excused for absences. Students must provide the instructor with a copy of the letter or travel schedule from the sponsoring department/professor prior to the absence so that the missed class will not count towards the University-designated number of allowed absences. All graded assignments due at the time of the absence must be turned in prior to the missed class.
Student Code of Conduct:
Cheating, Plagiarism, and other types of student misconduct as described in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, [ in an immediate FX for this course, and being reported to the Academic Integrity Officer.
** I reserve the right to alter/change any part of this syllabus in order to improve student learning or to adapt to unforeseen schedule constraints. Any changes to the distribution of the grades or to the syllabus will be announced in the class AND found in writing in Moodle.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Cellular phones and other calling/text messaging/chatting and social network devices must be switched off at all times during the class. You may use laptops in class BUT only to work on activities directly related to our course.
Office Hours
I will be available to students during office hours AND by email. Students are encouraged to utilize these two ways to reach me. Any meetings outside of office hours must be arranged with the professorby appointment only.
A NOTE ON Moodle: Access to Moodle is required in this class. Assignments, class notes syllabus, reflections, instructions, Power Points, study guides, grades, final exam and other activities related to this course will be available on Moodle.
Required Text:
Sayyed Qutb, Milestone.
Recommended Texts:
Ayatollah RuhollahKhomeini, Governance of the Jurist
Nasr, Seyyed Vali Reza. The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future. New York: Norton, 2006.
Huntington, Samuel. “The Clash of Civilizations”. Foreign Affairs 72, no. 3 (1993).
Lewis, Bernard. “The Roots of Muslim Rage.” The Atlantic Monthly 266, no. 3(September 1990).
Selective verses from the Quran.
Class Schedule
Week 1
Introduction, Groups & Syllabus
Islamism, Political Islam, Islamic Fundamentalism
Week 2
Politicizing Islam
Week 3
The Politics of the Prophet
The Quran
Week 4
The Politics of Aisha
Politicizing the Hijab
Week 5
Islam and the West
Islam and colonialism
Week 6
Islam and Modernism
Salafism
Week 7
Ibn Taimiyya
Ibin Abdel-Wahhab
Week 8
Nationalism, Colonialism and the Muslim Brothers
Hasan al-Banna
Vs
Sayyed Qutb
Week 9
Colonialism in South Asia
Sayyid Maudodi
Week 10
Islamism & Dictatorships
Week 11
The Shia Revival
Khomeini
Hezbollah
Week 12
9/11 and the Clash of Civilization
Week 13
Militant Islam
Al-Qaida vs ISIS
Week 14
Presentations
Week 15
Current Issues
Week 16
Can Political Islam be Defeated?Conclusions
Evaluations