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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014 -
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

Undergraduate Course: Jihad in Muslim Politics and Society (IMES10045)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaIslamic and Middle Eastern Studies Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionFew Islamic concepts are as contentious and polarising as jihad. With the rise of political Islam and, most recently, the al-Qa?ida phenomenon, jihad has increasingly been seen to represent the violent, expansionist, face of Islam and express the enduring animosity of Islam and Muslims toward the West. On the other hand, some insist that jihad represents a peaceful, spiritual, journey for Muslims and should not be equated with holy war. This course does not seek to resolve such debates or provide definitive answers, but instead takes a critical look at the theory and practice of jihad, examining the doctrinal and historical sources for modern interpretations, as well as the interplay between jihad as a set of ideas and jihad as practice in a variety of historical and geographical contexts. It engages with primary sources and secondary literature written from a diverse range of disciplinary perspectives, including the history of ideas, political science, international relations, sociology and anthropology. The course will analyse the ideas of luminaries such as Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, Qutb, Mawdudi and Khomeini; assess their political significance via historical and contemporary case studies; and critique academic, policy and media discourses on jihad.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Modern Middle Eastern History 1 (IMES08014) AND Islamic History 1 (IMES08018)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesA pass in Islamic History 1 and/or Modern Middle Eastern History 1 (preferred, but not essential. Students without background in these subjects should consult the course organiser).
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- Critical understanding of jihad as theory and practice in a variety of historical contexts.
- Familiarity with explanations for the emergence and characteristics of political Islam and the role of religious ideology and tradition in modern Middle Eastern politics.
- Ability to evaluate and critique scholarly and other writings on the above topics.
- Ability to place jihad and other ideological factors within social, political and historical contexts.

Assessment Information
One 2,500-word essay (30%)
One 3-hour examination (60%)
Class presentation and participation (10%)
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Thomas Pierret
Tel: (0131 6)50 4148
Email: Thomas.Pierret@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Paulo Nunes De Moura
Tel: (0131 6)50 4182
Email: paulo.nunesdemoura@ed.ac.uk
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