DAFF 25A56 - Minorities and minoritization in the contemporary Middle East and North Africa

The course takes a sociological approach to the study of inequalities in the region. The first sessions will provide fundamental sociological tools to approach social inequalities, minorities, and minoritization; we will then interrogate the discursive constructions of the Middle East and North Africa region as demographically homogenous (for example, homogenously Arab). Each meeting will be based on the study of a factor linked to social inequalities and linked minoritization; under study will be minority-groups as well as minoritization based on gender, socio-economic class, race, citizen/migrant status, urban versus rural habitation, language/dialects spoken, religion/sect. The course will end with a study of minority movements that contest their unequal status.

A basic knowledge on the politics and societies in the Middle East and North Africa region is desirable but not needed. Knowledge of Arabic and French languages is also desirable but not required.

Requirements for the class include doing the weekly readings and participating in class discussions (10%), two short writing assignments (20%+20%) leading up to the final project, and the final research project including paper workshop (20%) and final paper (30%).