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Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World

Approx. 40 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Explore the diverse history and culture of the Muslim world with this course. Learn about the religion of Islam, its spread, and its influence on different regions and societies.

Key Learning Points

Understand the history and culture of the Muslim world
Learn about the spread of Islam and its influence on different regions
Explore the diversity within the Muslim world

Learning Outcomes

Develop a deeper understanding of the Muslim world
Gain knowledge about the spread of Islam and its influence
Learn about the diversity within the Muslim world

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Interest in learning about the Muslim world
Access to a computer and internet connection

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online self-paced course
Video lectures and readings
Assignments and quizzes

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Description

Learn what motivates the restive Muslim youth from Tunis to Tehran, what political positions Islamists from Mali to Chechnya are fighting for, where the seeming obsession with Islamic law comes from, where the secularists have vanished to, and whether it makes sense to speak of an Islamic state.

Since 2009 there has been a renewed wave of popular unrest sweeping throughout much of the Muslim world. Secular, but generally repressive and inefficient autocracies have come under pressure or been swept aside entirely. At the same, the various Islamic Republics have not fared much better, but been convulsed by internal unrest, economic and social decline. Throughout the Muslim lands, existing constitutional arrangements are being challenged, often very violently. This course is a survey of the constitutional ideas and institutions that have developed since the mid 19th century throughout predominantly Muslim countries, but its focus will lie on the actors that have dominated this discourse and shaped its outcomes. We will look at the large body of classical writings on the Islamic state only in so far as it is necessary to understand the contemporary debate, but concentrate on the legal and political developments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Three common themes will characterise the course: We privilege the study of the legal and social reality and seek to highlight where it is at odds with dogmatic stipulations, be they religious or constitutional. We seek to illustrate the practical tensions posed by limited administrative capabilities and political legitimacy that resulted from the incomplete reception of modern bureaucratic statehood. We seek to examine how popular dissatisfaction with the practical performance of Muslim governments has fuelled demands for greater accountability under the guise of cultural authenticity. Ultimately, the course aims to equip participants to better understand Muslim contemporary discourse about the res publica, better contextualise the demands for religious law in public life, and to better ascertain the theoretical and practical feasibility of postulated religious alternatives to the still-dominant secular model of governance.

Outline

Overview: Presenting the Course
1.1 Welcome and Introduction
1.2 Presenting the Region
1.3 Early Modern History
1.4 Unresolved Challenge of Modernity
1.5 Four Models of Adaptation
1.6 Indicators of Relative Failure
1.7 Role of Religion and Islamic Law
Readings Week 1: Presenting the Course
End of Week 1 Quiz

Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey
2.1 People, Place and Patterns
2.2 Ottoman History
2.3 Ottoman Reform: Tanzimat and Majallah
2.4 Creation of the Republic
2.5 Kemalism and its Problems
2.6 Westernisation and Islamism
Readings week 2: Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey
End of Week 2 Quiz

Egypt and Maghreb
3.1 People, Place and Patterns Egypt
3.2 People, Places and Patterns Maghreb
3.3 Ottoman and Colonial History
3.4 Independence
3.5 Modernisation and Reform
3.6 Nasserism and its Problems
3.7 Westernisation and Islamism
Readings Week 3: Egypt and Maghreb
End of Week 3 Quiz

Saudi Arabia & The Gulf
4.1 People, Place and Patterns
4.2 Ottoman and Colonial History
4.3 Patrimonialism and Religion
4.4 Rentier Economies and Administration
4.5 Impact of Rents
4.6 Paradoxical Alliance
4.7 Unresolved Contradictions
Readings Week 4: Saudi Arabia and The Gulf
End of Week 4 Quiz

Iran & The Shiites
5.1 People, Place and Patterns
5.2 Imperial and Colonial History
5.3 Constitutional Revolution and Reaction
5.4 Nationalist Revolution and Reaction
5.5 Islamic Revolution and Reaction
5.6 Khomeini's Theory of Velayat-e Faqih
5.7 Unresolved Contradictions
Readings Week 5: Iran & The Shiites

The Levant (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq)
6.1 Taking Stock and Midway Summary
6.2 People, Place and Patterns
6.3 French Mandates
6.4 British Mandates
6.5 Order and Fractured Societies
6.6 Failure of Arab Socialism
6.7 Unresolved Contradictions
Readings Week 6: The Levant
End of Week 6 Quiz

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh
7.1 People, Place and Patterns
7.2 Colonial History of British India
7.3 Post-Independence: Pakistan and Bangladesh
7.4 Afghanistan: Creation of the State and ‘Golden Years’
7.5 Afghanistan: Jihadi Gangsters
7.6 Failure of State-Building and Islamisation
7.7 Unresolved Contradictions
Readings Week 7: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh
End of Week 7 Quiz

Malaysia & Indonesia
8.1 People, Place and Patterns
8.2 Colonial History Malaysia
8.3 Colonial History Indonesia
8.4 Post-Independence Malaysia
8.5 Post-Independence Indonesia
8.6 Unresolved Contradictions
Readings for Week 8: Malaysia and Indonesia
End of Week 8 Quiz

Sub-Saharan Africa
9.1 People, Place and Patterns
9.2 Colonial History Muslim Africa
9.3 Neo-Colonial Legacies
9.4 Weak States and Institutions
9.5 Post-Independence Instability
9.6 Fractured Constitutional Bargains
Reading Week 9: Sub-Saharan Africa

Conclusion and Outlook
10.1 Commonality and Diversity
10.2 Unity and Friction
10.3 Minorities
10.4 Legal and Social Reality
10.5 Practical Tensions
10.6 Popular Dissatisfaction
10.7 Good Bye
Readings Week 10: Conclusion and Outlook
End of Week 10 Quiz

Summary of User Reviews

The Muslim World course on Coursera received positive reviews from learners. The course covers various aspects of Islam, including its history, culture, and impact on the world. Many learners found the course engaging and informative.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the Muslim world and its impact on the world

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and informative course content
Expert instructors with in-depth knowledge of the subject matter
Flexible learning schedule and self-paced learning
Access to a global community of learners
Certificate of completion upon finishing the course

Cons from User Reviews

Some learners found the course material too challenging
Limited interaction with instructors and peers
Some learners found the course to be too focused on history and not enough on current events
The course requires a significant time commitment
Some learners experienced technical difficulties with the platform

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