OCMO 2035 - Islam and Politics in the Middle East and Beyond

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

This course is designed to provide students with the tools and knowledge necessary to make sense of the complex relationship between Islam and Politics in the contemporary Middle East and beyond. This will be done through an interdisciplinary approach, relying on history, political sociology and international relations. A central focus of the course will be Islamist movements. Their birth and development will be examined, with the aim of explaining how they have come to exert such a large influence in Middle Eastern societies and politics. Through a series of case studies, we will reflect on the political strategies those movements have adopted, and the way those have changed over the past few decades. We will cover the rising threat of jihadism, while considering its place within the evolution of Islamism as a whole. We will also discuss the counter-strategies adopt by Arab states in the wake of a regional backlash against Islamists following the Arab spring. The course will finally offer some insights from beyond the Middle East, by looking at Muslim-majority countries in South-East Asia and Africa.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to make sense of the complex relationship between Islam and Politics in the contemporary Middle East and beyond
• Acquire knowledge on contemporary Middle Eastern politics, with the ability to make better sense of what one reads in the news
• A better understanding of Islamism and jihadism, and all related security questions

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Research and Analysis

Critical Thinking

Creative Thinking

Some basic knowledge of Middle Eastern history.

During optional individual meetings at the end of the semester

• One research paper (3000 to 4000 words) 50%
• One in-class exam (around 2000 words) 50%

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Online learning activities: 0 hours a week / 0 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 2-3 hours a week / 24-36 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 0 hours a week / 0 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester