Islam and Politics

This course introduces different perspectives for the study of Islam and politics. It provides a critical understanding of the dynamic of changes in the Middle East and North Africa from the advent of Islam in the 7th century to the present time. Major themes include: the rise and expansion of Islam and Islamic civilization,; the rise and fall of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires; the impact of imperialism and colonialism; regional incorporation into the world system; anti-colonialism, nationalism and the emergence of the contemporary state system; the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts; the Iranian Revolution and the rise of Islamism; the Arab Spring; and the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS).