Islam, Terrorism, and the West



Political Science

Islam and World Politics

Since the tragic events of September 11th, many Westerners—privately and publicly—are looking at Islam with a mixture of fear and hostility. Images of ordinary Muslims celebrating attacks on America and proclaiming support for radical Islamists have riveted Western fears around the “threat of Islam.” This course explores the role of Islam in world politics. Topics include Islam and modernity, the meaning of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of anti-Western Islamic Movements, and the uses of violence by Muslims around the globe. Although we cover the origins and expansion of Islam from the 7th century, much of what we discuss revolves around contemporary Islamic politics since the 20th century and its potential in the 21st century.

Course Themes

Required Texts

Outline of Topics

I. Understanding Islam and Muslims

• Introductions and overview of course topics

• Islamic Concepts, Tenets, and Practices

• Debates surrounding Islam, Fundamentalism, and the West

• ◄ Video: Empire of Faith (Part I) ►

Readings: Esposito, The Islamic Threat (Chapter 2); Class Handouts

Paper Assignment: None

II. Islam and Modernity

• What is Modernity and Modernization?

• How did the Islamic empire decline in modernity?

• What were the responses of Muslims to decline in the face of modernity?

• ◄ Video: Empire of Faith (Part II) ►

Readings: Esposito, The Islamic Threat (Chapters 2-3); Lewis, What Went Wrong (Chapter 1-2)

Paper Assignment: 2-4 pages summary of readings (worth 15 points)

III. Islamic “Fundamentalism” in the 20th Century

• What is Islamic “Fundamentalism” and why did it emerge in the 20th Century?

• What are the basic characteristics of “Fundamentalist” Islamic movements?

• What are the core principles that motivate Islamic “Fundamentalists”?

• ◄ Video: God Fights Back ►

Readings: Esposito, The Islamic Threat (Chapters 1 and 4); Lewis, What Went Wrong (Chapter 5)

Paper Assignment: 2-4 pages summary of readings (worth 15 points)

IV. Continuity and Diversity in Islamic Movements

• Are all Islamic Fundamentalists alike?

• What are the basic views of the Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt) and Jama’at-i Islam-i (Pakistan)?

• What are “Islam from Above” and “Islam from Below”?

• What does revolutionary Islam, reformist Islam, and political Islam mean?

• ◄ Video: Muslims ►

• Case Studies

|Egypt (pp. 142-148) |Lebanon (pp. 148-159) |Tunisia (pp. 159-171) |

|Algeria (pp. 171 – 191) |Turkey (191 -207) |Saudi Arabia (no readings) |

|Jordan (no readings) |Malaysia (no readings) |Iran (no readings) |

Readings: Esposito, The Islamic Threat (Chapter 5)

Paper Assignment: None

Extra Credit Class Presentation: Students may volunteer to do a presentation on each country covered in this week’s readings (worth up to 5 points)

Outline of Topics (cont.)

V. Islamic Rebellions, Jihad, and the Boundaries of Holy War

• What are the common explanations for Islamic rebellions?

• How does the political system shape the strategies of Islamic movements?

• What is jihad and how did the concept develop in Islam?

• How do Muslims use Islamic concepts such as jihad and martyrdom to justify rebellion?

• ◄ Video: Shaheed: The Making of a Suicide Bomber ►

Readings: Hafez, Why Muslims Rebel (Chapters 1-2; Additional articles will be distributed by professor.)

Paper Assignment: 2-4 pages summary of readings (worth 10 points)

VI. Transnational Islamic Terrorism: Case Study of Al-Qaeda

• Why have many Muslims turned against the West?

• How do Islamists justify the killing of civilians?

• ◄ Video: Hunt for Bin Laden ►

• ◄ Video: Looking for Answers: The Story of Ayman al-Zawahiri ►

Readings: Hafez, Why Muslims Rebel (Chapter 5); Additional articles will be distributed by professor.

Paper Assignment: 2-4 pages summary of readings (worth 10 points)

VII. Islam and the Clash of Civilizations?

• What is the Clash of Civilizations thesis?

• What is dar al-harb and dar al-Islam?

• Do you think we are in the midst of a clash with the Islamic World?

• What policies would you recommend to Western policymakers toward the Islamic World?

• ◄ Video: The Roots of 9/11 ►

• ◄ Video: Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet ►

Readings: Esposito, The Islamic Threat (Chapter 6); Hafez, Why Muslims Rebel (Chapter 6)

Paper Assignment: 2-4 pages summary of readings (worth 10 points)

VIII. Book Review Assignment (worth 20 Points)

• Read Bernard Lewis’ What Went Wrong in its entirety

• Write a 4-5 page summary of the author’s argument

Questions to Consider For Book Review

• What is the author’s thesis?

• What is his description of “modernity” and how does the Muslim world fare in modernity?

• What are the key differentiators between Islam and the West?

• What specific evidence does the author present to substantiate his thesis?

• From the documentaries we’ve seen in class, such as Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, Muslims, and the Root of 9/11, do you agree with the author’s viewpoint? Why or why not?

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• The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality by John Esposito (1999)

• What Went Wrong: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response by Bernard Lewis (2001)

• Why Muslims Rebel by Mohammed Hafez (2003)

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• What is Islam and what is Islamic fundamentalism?

• What are the cultural, political, and economic roots of Islamic revivalism today?

• Are Islamic movements all alike or do they vary in their beliefs, strategies, and views toward the West?

• Does Islam sanction or prohibit wars of aggression? Which factors best explain Islamic violence?

• Does Islam constitute a threat to the West? Are we in the midst of a "clash of civilizations?"

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