Religion and Politics in the Middle East

Course Schedule

This schedule is designed to let you know what the reading assignments are for each section that we are covering. In addition, dates for exams can be found here. If there are any questions, please contact me at the email address to the right.

1. January 8-10
   Introduction to the Middle East
   Map of the Middle East
   Alternate (and better) map of the Middle East from the CIA factbook. Download as PDF for best results.
   Map Assignment due on January 10. For the assignment, identify by writing the following 38 items on the map:
   Turkey and its capital
   Syria and its capital
   Lebanon and its capital
   Israel and its capital (capital not on map)
   Jordan and its capital
   The West Bank
   Egypt and its capital
   Sudan and its capital
   Eritrea
   Ethiopia and its capital
   Djibouti and its capital
   Yemen and its capital
   Oman and its capital
   Saudi Arabia and its capital
   The United Arab Emirates
   Oman (just once)
   Qatar
   Kuwait
   Iraq and its capital
   Iran and its capital
   The Mediterranean Sea
   The Red Sea
   The Arabian Sea
   The Persian Gulf
   
   Map Quiz on Wednesday, Jan 17, first ten minutes of class

2. January 17
Quiz. Intro to Islam continued.
3. Jan 22-24
Introduction to Islam continued
Reading: Gelvin: Chapters 1 and 2 (think about the extent to which our national identities are natural or are "constructs")
A version of the Powerpoint I put up on the "5 pillars of Islam" and briefly on the Ottoman Empire is now online
A longer Powerpoint on Islam, parts of which I used in class, is also now online
online
4. Jan 29-31
Judaism and Jews in the Middle East
Reading: Gelvin, Chapter 3

ZIONISM, ARAB NATIONALISM, PALESTINE, ISRAEL


5. Feb 5-7
Jewish Nationalism, early emigration to Palestine, creation of a Jewish community in Palestine up to 1948, creation of Palestinian Nationalism
Reading: Gelvin chapter 4
6. Feb 12-14

1948, creation of Israel, a Jewish homeland, forced removal of Palestinians. Creation of Jewish state and its corrolary, the creation of Palestinian statelessness.
Readings:
Gelvin Chapter 5

7. Feb 19-21
Arab states and Israel, Creation of PLO, 1967 war, Religious Zionism and colonization of the West Bank and Gaza
Readings: Spokesmen for the Despised. "Guides of the Faithful";
Joe Sacco, Palestine;
Gelvin, Chapter 8
Assignment due Feb 21: 1-2 page writeup on news related to Israel, Palestine, refugees. You are essentially summarizing the report and trying to make sense of it. Here is what I've said about the format:

The format is: 1. Your name, 2. the name of the source, 3. the web addresses of the source, or attach a hard copy of the item you are reporting on, 4. the author of the piece you are reporting on (if names are given). In your actual write up, summarize the news in the piece and try to make sense of what it means.

8. Feb 26-28
Wars, cold peace, current situation
From The Holy Mountain
Fisk, Robert. Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War. "Terrorists"
OPTIONAL READING: Gelvin Chapter 10
9. March 1
Last day to Withdraw
10. March 5-7
Spring Break

IRAN


11. March 12-14
March 12: Midterm on Islam, Judaism, Zionism, Israel, Palestinian nationalism and modern history March 14: Modern Iranian History
Media Assignment #2: Search the web for news and analysis of the current build up of tension between the U.S. and Iran. For example, the new article by Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker, plus his previous articles there are a good possibility. Try to answer the question: What is going on? Why are tensions between the US and Iran so high? What are the issues? Who in the US and who in Iran seems to be stoking tension?
12. March 19-21
Mosaddegh
Assignment for 2/19: watch this forty-five minute-long show on oil, much of which has to do with Iran and Mosaddegh. All of it has to do with oil. History of Oil
Do not expect to understand every word, and note that this is very unconventional, iconoclastic, and incredibly smart.
Reading for 2/21: Shia Revival

13. March 21: Norouz, Iranian new year
14. March 26-28
Current situation, women
Reading: Satrapi, Persepolis.
Media Assignment 3: Iran, Oil, Shiites, Women in Iran
15. April 2-4
April 4: Quiz on modern Iran, Mosaddegh

16. April 9-11
17. April 16-18
Atwan, Abdel Bari. The secret history of al-Qa’ida. London: Saqi Books, 2006.
Media Assignment 4: Al-Qaeda, Islamic fundamentalism
Important figures:
Sayyid Qutb
Usama bin Laden

18. April 23-25
Lewis, Bernard. The Roots of Muslim Rage (What is the argument? What works and what doesn't?)
Said, Edward. Reflections of Exile and Other Essays. "The Clash of Definitions"
April 25: Quiz on UBL, al-Qaeda, Sayyid Qutb, Afghan Jihad, Bernard Lewis' Roots of Muslim Rage
19. April 30
Last day of class
20. FINAL EXAM. Monday, May 7 at 12:30 p.m!

NOTE: this syllabus represents a general plan for the course; it may be altered in response to the demands of time and subject matter as the course develops.