Jihad in Muslim Politics and Society (U04454)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U04454

Few Islamic concepts are as contentious and polarising as jihad. With the rise of political Islam and, most recently, the al-Qa’ida phenomenon, jihad has increasingly been seen to represent the violent, expansionist, face of Islam and express the enduring animosity of Islam and Muslims toward the ‘West.’ On the other hand, some insist that jihad represents a peaceful, spiritual, journey for Muslims and should not be equated with ‘holy war.’ This course does not seek to resolve such debates or provide definitive answers, but instead takes a critical look at the theory and practice of jihad, examining the doctrinal and historical sources for modern interpretations, as well as the interplay between jihad as a set of ideas and jihad as practice in a variety of historical and geographical contexts. It engages with primary sources and secondary literature written from a diverse range of disciplinary perspectives, including the history of ideas, political science, international relations, sociology and anthropology. The course will analyse the ideas of luminaries such as Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, Qutb, Mawdudi and Khomeini; assess their political significance via historical and contemporary case studies; and critique academic, policy and media discourses on jihad.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A pass in Islamic History 1 and/or Modern Middle Eastern History 1 (preferred, but not essential. Students without background in these subjects should consult the course organiser).

? Costs : n/a

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Tutorial	Tuesday	16:10	18:00	Central
Tutorial	Friday	12:10	13:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

• Critical understanding of jihad as theory and practice in a variety of historical contexts.
• Familiarity with explanations for the emergence and characteristics of political Islam and the role of religious ideology and tradition in modern Middle Eastern politics.
• Ability to evaluate and critique scholarly and other writings on the above topics.
• Ability to place jihad and other ideological factors within social, political and historical contexts.