BHUM 13A00 - Islam in the Mediterranean: Governance, Identity & Religion

Relying on a multidisciplinary approach, this seminar aims at providing students with theoretical and empirical tools for the apprehension of the Islamic Civilization and the Middle East and Mediterranean region. As a reading seminar, its methodology will be to encourage students to analyze the various texts of the bibliography - the evaluations of the semester being an oral presentation on an academic publication, a written evaluation of each student's knowledge on the course, as well as an oral participation grade. Classes will emphasize on the birth and production of the islamic discourse and practice throughout the centuries – both as a religious and cultural phenomenon, but also as a structuring element of social and political norms. These notions are central in the analysis of the islamic civilization, particularly in the Mediterranean region, which saw the rise of different cultures and religious groups. One the course's main interests will be to question the legacy of the studied history, and therefore underline the continuity and breakups of this heritage in contemporary Arab and Islamic countries. The comprehension of religious discourse and institutions, as well as their role within the birth of Mediterranean common (and, sometimes, antagonist) cultures, will give students a conceptual approach which will serve them during their whole academic journey in Menton - and their future career. Questioning the notion of religion, distinguishing between faith and political ideologies, but also memories, identities and belongings, will be at the center of this course's methodology, in order to develop the students' critical thinking and reflexive analysis. In parallel to the aforementioned subjects, the objective of this class is to encourage the students to read and use publications extracted from the global academic literature. Scientific articles are indeed new for most of them, and require specific tools to be fully understood and analyzed. Through the reading and discussion of these texts, and with the focus on specific themes related to the Islamic civilization, students will be encouraged to take a critical look at the way some key notions and concepts related to this particular field have been produced to explain the particular dynamics of the Mediterranean region.

Henri DU PÉRIER,Damien SAVEROT

Cours magistral et conférences

English

Autumn and Spring 2024-2025

• Oral presentation and written review : 60% of the final grade, an in-class presentation on an academic publication from the syllabus (each class offering multiple choices of texts). This oral presentation is to be performed by two or three students, depending on the class size, and also aims at launching a discussion among the whole class on the readings. In addition, a written version of the presentation is to be given on the same day. The oral presentations will start on class 5, to give students the time to choose their subject and partners. • Knowledge test : 30% of the final grade, a short evaluation of knowledge to be written by students on class 4. • In-class participation : 10% of the final grade. Participation of every student to the discussions around the readings and based on the group presentation, as well as answers to any potential “pop-quiz” at the beginning of each class.