| Unit name | Politics and Society in Islam: the example of North Africa |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH20028 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Theodossopoulos |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The course aims to provide students with an understanding and appreciation of Islam, not merely as a religion, but also as a social and political system. The course introduces students to the history of Islam, its sources of faith and basic tenets, the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam, shari'a and its consequences, Islamic values, social practices, the Family Code and contemporary Islamic communities. The course draws heavily upon case studies in North Africa to illustrate the social and political challenges facing Islamic communities in the modern world. In this respect, it introduces students to the nature of both traditional and contemporary society in North Africa, including the history, beliefs, practices and politics of various Islamist movements such as the FIS, other 'fundamentalist' organisations (including alleged 'terrorist' groups - GSPC) and the social and political challenges confronting them in the modern world.
