Module SGIA2221: ISLAM, STATE AND GOVERNMENT

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA2221: ISLAM, STATE AND GOVERNMENT

Prerequisites

• Any Level 1 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The module will enable students to develop an understanding of the history of Muslim political thought and theories of government appropriate to level two. It will require them to read- in translation-a number of key texts and place them in their historical and intellectual contexts.
• The module will contribute to the development of a systematic understanding of the evolution of Muslim political thought, theories of understanding the socio-political dynamics of modern Muslim societies.
• The module will build on the introduction to the culture, politics and religion of Muslim civilisations which students reciebve in the first year module Introduction to Islam and the Muslim World. In doing so, it will provide a broad basis for enqiry into the theological, jurisprudential and philosophical pillars upon which muslim political principles have been constructed and debated. It will aim to give students detailed and specific knowledge, informed by developments at the forfront of academic enquiry. It will contribute also to a wider understanding of key concepts, theories and methods. It will prepare students for advanced modules in Muslim political thought in their final year in which ideas and theories are considered in more depth, and against the backdrop of empirical case- studies from around the Muslim world.

Content

• The course will focus on, and be dictated by, the use od a selection of primary sources, ranging from the early Muslim chrinicles, to the modern discussions of Islamic government and the trealtionshoip of Islam with the West. Core issues include: Leadership in the Koran;
• The Prophet and the rise of the Caliphate;
• The dominance of the military and the iqta system;
• The Mongol invasions;
• The Ottoman empire;
• Formulating the 'Islamic state';
• Islam and democracy;
• Islam and revolution;
• Political Islam and Jihadism.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop a knowledge and understanding of: important elements of the Koranic approach to statecraft and the evolution of Muslim political thought.
• The historical and cultural context of Muslim political theories.
• The tension between the trans- historical idealism of Koranic theory and the realpolitik of the early Muslim caliphate.

• Students will develop a range of subject-specific skills, including: accurate and effective description of a rabge of Muslim political theories and concepts.
• Identification and application of appropriate methods of critical analysis to key debates in Muslim political thought.
• Gathering and organising evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources.
• Critical reflection on the nature of political debate in relation to specific historical and intellectual contexts.
• Understanding the interplay between faith and politics, or 'mosque' aand 'state' in Muslim political theory

• Students will develop a range of key skills, including: retreiving and utilising resources to which they have been directed.
• Identifying resources on their own initiative.
• Assessing the suitability and quality of resources.
• Planning and successful completion of written assignments.
• Self-organisation and time-management.
• Self relience and self criticism.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures will give a detailed outline, appropriate to a level two module, of the context and content of the texts and ideas to be studied and advice as to critical approach and reading.
• Student-led seminars will supplement and deepen the context of lectures and provide an oppertunity for the presentation and discussion of selected tissues. The meeting will be based upon prescribed texts with suitable guidance on the issues they raise. The seminar programme will enable students to explore aspects of Muslim political thought critically and in detail and to develop skills in communication and group discussion. They will also provide a basis on which to select their areas of specilaist research for summative essays.
• The formative essay of 1,500 words and two 2,000 word summative essays test the ability to plan work, identifying and retreiving sources and selecting and displaing appropriate subject knowledge and understaning on their substantive content, and to demonstaret the development of subjecy specific skills in the use of concepts and interpretaion and analysis. They also develop key skills in the effective written communication and information presentation to appropraite scholarly standards.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Seminar presentations, formatively assessed by feedback sheet and individual discussion where necessary. 1,500 word essay returned with feedback sheet.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University