INTS 381 : Political Islam in Comparative Context

INTS381, Political Islam in Comparative Context, provides a multidisciplinary glimpse into the various ways that Islam manifests itself politically around the world. Part One looks to the faith--the scripture and organization of Islam. Part Two examines the rise of Islamic politics in the post-colonial world. The course then shifts to discuss different manifestations that speak to the Janus-faced, conservative and progressive nature of Political Islam, in relation to war, Sharia law, social justice, and human rights. The course concludes by considering democracy in the ongoing evolution of Political Islam. The primary objective of this course is to help students understand the fragmented, and at times contradictory, nature of Political Islam. Even terms such as jihad or sharia contain diverse meanings, ranging from demands for resistance to the promotion of education. Students are expected to move beyond images of Islam as monolithic and instead approach Islam as a living religion, one struggling with many of the same social issues facing other world faiths.