The History of Political Islam in the Middle East
Islamic Movements / Secular States: Competing Visions of Governance
Iranian Revolution in Shahyad Square
Background:
World War I fundamentally altered the map and politics of the Middle East. The state system, however qualified, replaced Ottoman imperial rule in the form of independent states, protectorates and League of Nations mandates. At the same time, the Turkish Republic abolished the Caliphate in 1924. By the mid 1950s, with few exceptions, nearly all of the states of today’s Middle East were recognized in international law as fully independent states. The states the emerged out of the old imperial order embarked upon campaigns of internal and external reform to strengthen the nation domestically and internationally. From the moment that the Ottoman Empire collapsed, social movements within the new states demanded the restoration of Islam as a central feature of political and social life. Such demands expanded starting in the 1960s and gained extensive support by the 1970s and 1980s. William Cleveland has argued that though political Islam appeared to be a transnational movement across the Muslim world, it occurrence “had origins in the context of local conditions.”
Assignment:
Drawing upon two case studies, compare Islamic and secular visions of the state. Root each study in its particular historical and political context. The goal for this writing assignment is to provide an original interpretation of your primary sources. Cite liberally from your sources. Quotations provide the evidence necessary to write a compelling analysis of your primary sources. Please do not recapitulate arguments from secondary sources.
Consider the following questions:
How do the various visions of political Islam and secular states in the Middle East reflect the differences of the particular political circumstances? What are the similarities? Based on the sources, what do you think are the reasons behind these differences or similarities?
DOCUMENTS:
Below you will find a list of sources that have been uploaded to CourseDen.
Case Study #1 Egypt
1 – Hasan al-Banna “Toward the Light,” 1947 or Sayyid Qutb, Milestones, 1964
2 – Jamal Abd al-Nasser, Egypt’s Liberation or Philosophy of Revolution 1953
Case Study #2 Iran
1- Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, “Islamic Government,” 1970 or Ali Shariati, Reflections of Humanity
2- Speech by Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, 1951 or Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Mission for My Country
***You may alternatively propose a research topic of your own design. I must approve the topic and primary sources.
1) Brainstorm & preliminary Argument – Due April 5th
2) Detailed Outline – Due April 12
3) Your FINAL paper should be 8-10 pages double-spaced. Please use Times New Roman font and standard margins. Upload your paper to CourseDen by April 30 at midnight. Late papers will lose half a letter grade per day late.
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