SPOL2215-1 : Elements of introduction to political Islam

Study Programmes 2015-2016

SPOL2215-1

Elements of introduction to political Islam

Duration :

15h Th

Number of credits :

Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS)		5
Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...)		5
Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...)		3

Lecturer :

Alain Grignard

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

This course will not be organised in 2015-2016. The first part of the course will be centred on a historical perspective in order to place prophetic revelation in context. This phase will involve a reminder of the major stages of Muslim history with particular reference to great schisms and an overview of the great Muslim dynasties. The second part will deal with general principles of the Muslim religion (sources of law and exegetical mechanisms, the five pillars of Islam, orthodoxy and popular religion). Some subjects relating to current events will be particularly dealt with, (the notion of clergy and representation of Islam, the question of the headscarf etc.). In the final part, the course will examine the principal political institutions of Islam. The notions of power and state will be particularly studied through different religious sensibilities and the status of non-Muslims in Islamic countries. The course will also attempt to explain the phenomenon of radical Islam by studying its genesis and development. The ideas of instrumentalisation and perversion of religion for political ends will be particularly demonstrated.

Learning outcomes of the course :

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

There is no syllabus.