DHUM 27A30 - Ideology and Politics: Political Thought in the Middle East and North Africa within Global Context

This course is a survey course on the impact of key ideological currents from late 19th century to the present. The course takes on Middle East as its geography of focus, and discusses and analyzes major episodes in the “short Twentieth century” up until contemporary developments in global political game in which in ideologues played a dominant role in legitimizing hegemonic and counterhegemonic discourses in nation building, international relations, and the relations between state and non-state actors. It critically engages how secular and religious ideologies have transformed and hegemonic and counterhegemonic political discourses in the region. The course starts with the introductory literature on theories and approaches to intellectual history and the global processes. After the introduction of the theoretical debates, it discusses the major episodes as case studies related to nationalism, Islamism in tandem with enlightenment, (post)colonialism, democracy, socialism, liberalism, modernity, Cold War, and feminism. The course will discuss and analyze three major issues in the intersection of state and ideology: the relationship of intellectuals and ideologues with power, the impact of the state in shaping social and international orders, and the role of ideology in nation building and international relations. The course relies on a review of secondary literature and translated primary source of political thought. By this, course first: enables students to outline the genealogy of the current ideologies and political ideas in the region. Second it helps students to grasp the circulation of ideas, questions, and issues raised in a dialectical manner by putting these ideas within an interconnected global context and reciprocal relations with the world outside of MENA. Course Objectives First, the course aims to introduce students with the field of global intellectual processes in the study of international relations. Students should learn to identity and discuss multiple theoretical and conceptual approaches in the study of ideologies and politics in modern history. Second, the course will prepare students to develop their own research agenda on a case study of their own and discuss the role of the ideologies, the state, and the use of political discourses in nation building and international relations. Course requirements Students are required to attend all classes, read the assigned material, participate in the discussion sessions and complete the assigned workload of the course. Students are expected to critically engage with the course material.

Remzi Çagatay ÇAKIRLAR

Séminaire

English

Autumn 2023-2024

1. In-class participation and preparedness 25% 2. Group Workshop (presentation) in class on week's primary sources 25% 3. Final Paper proposal 10% 4. 2.500-3.000 - word essay (Final Paper) 40%