Winter term 2007

Political Science

AS/GS POLS 4075/5000 W 3.0 Encounters of Islam and Modernity

Course Instructor:
Professor: Sabah Alnasseri

Office Location/Hours:
Ross S634
Fridays: 12.30-14.00

E-mail:
alnaseri@yorku.ca

Telephone:
22552

Time and Location
Vari Hall 3005
Fridays: 14.30-17.30

Prerequisite / Co-requisite:
Familiarity with Middle Eastern and North African history, politics and society.

Expanded Course Description

General principles

This is a fourth year and graduate degree combined course on the issue of encounters and interfaces between “Islam” and “Modernity”. It is designed as a survey course whereby students actively participate in the debates via classroom presentations and staged controversies.

The course is designed to engage students in the contemporary understandings of Islam and modernity from within the discourses of both comparative politics and political theory.

It is neither a theological nor a philosophical seminar. Neither "Islam" nor "Modernity" stands as such here for debate.

In general, both are being constructed as homogeneous, antithetical or totalitarian subjects.

It is important to know on the one hand, how, when, why and who is speaking and to whom.

On the other hand, it is just as important to know that neither behind Islam nor behind modernity stands a uniform conception.

Quite the contrary: both represent disputed and contested conceptions.

For instance, the conceptions of Islam ranged from social order, religion, culture, state and society up to a counter world order or empire! The same applies mutatis mutandis to modernity. The selection of readings discussed in the class addresses the background of the assumed ‘encounter’ between Islam and modernity. The debates during the course also tackle the issue of ‘fundamentalism’ and its related off-shots such as clash and siege metaphors, holy war narratives, monolithic versus hybrid conventions of political community, and finally, the interaction between social and political movements in the Middle East and global politics.

We will try during the seminar to work out the ideological-political mystifications and to deliver a more realistic assessment in its place: what makes sense, makes little or no sense at all. In this context we will handle issues like secularism, subjectivity, state, political power, domination, class- and gender, violence and new world order etc.

Course aims

The course then will guide the student into these problematic, reflects upon it critically, and looks for possible alternatives to overcome the limitations of these definitions and perceptions with the aim of a different, more democratic- plural understanding of the subjects.

Students taking this course are expected to develop an informed understanding of the problematic and about ways of overcoming the simplification inherent within.

Assignment

Undergraduate

Two take home essay, 5p. each (these should include citation).
First essay: 09.02, due 23.02
Second essay: 09.03, due 23.03
Technical: 12pt font, 1,25 margin on all sides.
At the ends of the seminar there will be a two-hour in class examination for the Undergraduate.

Graduate

Two take home essays, 10p. each (should include citation).
Technical: 12pt font, 1,25 margin on all sides.
First essay: 09.02, due 23.02
Second essay: 09.03, due 23.03

Evaluation

Grading Undergraduate

20% presentation
10% class participation
20% in class examination, last day of class
50% essays

Grading Graduates

70% essays
10% class participation
20% presentation

Abbreviation

BOR: Books on reserve
CK: Course Kit
OB: Order through the bookstore

Assignment Submission and Lateness Penalties

Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time.  Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment.  Assignments are to be handed in class at the weekly assigned dates, or else during the office hours immediately before the class.
Note: the department drop box is only to be used for late papers.

Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized as follow: one-half letter grade (1 grade point) per day of the total assignment grade will be taken out for the first 3 days. Afterwards, the assignment will only be graded at a 50% rate until 2 weeks past its due time. Past that date, the assignment will not be graded.
Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter).

Important Course Information for Students

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage (see Reports, Initiatives, Documents)  - http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm

Weekly Required Readings

Week of Jan 5

Introduction. No Readings

Important Dates

Jan 3: Winter term classes commence.

Week of Jan 12

Readings:

Important Dates:

N/A

Week of Jan 19

Readings:

Important Dates:

Jan 18: Last date to announce component of final grade
Jan 18: Last day to enroll without permission of instructor

Week of Jan 26

Readings:

Important Dates:

Jan 26: Last day to enroll with permission of the instructor

Week of Feb 2

Readings:

Important Dates:

N/A

Week of Feb 9

Readings:

Important Dates:

N/A

Week of Feb 12 – 16:

Reading Week. (No classes.)

Week of Feb 23

Readings:

Presentation, No Readings

Important Dates:

N/A

Week of Mar 2

Readings:

Important Dates:

Mar 2: At least 15% of grade must be released to students

Week of Mar 9

Readings:

Important Dates:

>Mar 9: Last day to drop Winter courses without receiving a final grade.

Week of Mar 16

Readings:

Important Dates:

Week of Mar 23

Readings:

Presentation, No Readings.

Important Dates:

N/A

Week of Mar 30

2-hours in class examination for Undergrad.
Take home work for Grad.

Important Dates:

Apr 3: Classes end.
Apr 11: Last day to submit winter term course work.