Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University

Culture and Belief 12. For the Love of God and His Prophet: Religion, Literature, and the Arts in Muslim Cultures
Catalog Number: 7027
Ali S. Asani (The Study of Religion)
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 11:30–1, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
The course surveys the literary and artistic dimensions of the devotional life of the world’s Muslim communities, focusing on the role of literature and the arts (poetry, music, architecture, calligraphy, etc.) as expressions of piety and socio-political critique. An important aim of the course is to explore the relationships between religion, literature, and the arts in a variety of historical and cultural contexts in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Europe, and America.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2010–11. No prior knowledge of Islam required. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3627. This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for either Culture and Belief or Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding, but not both. This course, when taken for a letter grade meets the Core area requirement for Literature and Arts C. This course fulfills the requirement that one of the eight General Education courses also engages substantially with Study of the Past.

Culture and Belief 27 (formerly Jewish Studies 55). Text and Context: Jews and their Books in Pagan, Christian and Muslim Surroundings
Catalog Number: 2338
Rachel L. Greenblatt (Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations)
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 12
Can we trace an "authentic" Jewish identity through history, as distinct from many "cultures" of Jews in the multitude of times and places in which they have lived? This course provides an overview of major trends in Jewish civilization from biblical times through the early modern era (to approximately the seventeenth century), with this and related questions in mind, by engaging in close readings of traditional Jewish sources on the one hand and seeking contextual understandings of Jews and Judaism within various non-Jewish settings on the other.
Note: Required of all secondary concentrators in Jewish Studies, unless excused by the DUS. This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Literature and Arts C. This course fulfills the requirement that one of the eight General Education courses also engages substantially with Study of the Past.

Literature and Arts B-35. The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Catalog Number: 1678
Gulru Necipoglu-Kafadar
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 12, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 14
"Golden Age" of Ottoman-Islamic visual culture in the 16th century, considered within its ceremonial and historical contexts, focusing on architecture, miniature painting, and decorative arts. Stresses the transformation of Byzantine Constantinople into Ottoman Istanbul, formation of an imperial architectural style, and cross-cultural artistic contacts with contemporary European and Islamic courts. Considers art and architecture of Safavid Iran and Mughal India as a comparative backdrop. Discusses the role of centralized court ateliers in propagatin g canons of taste, the emphasis on decorative arts in a culture that rejected monumental sculpture and painting, and representations of the East by European artists in the Orientalist mode. Note: Expected to be omitted in 2010-11.

*Freshman Seminar 34j. Medieval and Early Modern Love Poetry
Catalog Number: 57137 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Luis M. Girón Negrón
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Does love have a history? This seminar explores a particularly rich episode in its literary history: efflorescence of love poetry in medieval Europe and the Middle East. Close readings of troubadour lyric in Provençal, German, French and Galician-Portuguese; Latin amatory verse; Petrarchan sonnets and their heirs; Arabic-Hebrew muwashshahat; mysticism; Dante, Juan Ruiz and Roman de la Rose. Attention given to premodern discussions on love and scholarly views on how medieval European love lyric originated.
Note: For Freshmen only. All primary readings will be available both in English translation and in the original languages.
Prerequisite: There are no prerequisites.

*Freshman Seminar 42k. Comparative Law and Religion
Catalog Number: 9992 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Ofrit Liviatan
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Investigates how modern democracies use their legal systems to address religion-based conflicts, and evaluates the effects of the legal process on the resolution of these conflicts. Examines different philosophical approaches to the role of religion in public life and discusses their legal manifestations drawing on legal cases from the US, Turkey, India, Israel, Spain, Canada, and England. Studies contemporary debates about the funding of religious institutions, the wearing of Islamic headscarves.
Note: Open to Freshmen only.

*Freshman Seminar 42n. Comparative National Security of Middle Eastern Countries
Catalog Number: 5714 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Charles David Freilich
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
The course surveys the national security threats and opportunities facing the primary countries of the Middle East, from their perspective. Issues discussed include the domestic sources of national security considerations, relations with regional and international players, military doctrine, foreign policy principles. The seminar is an interactive, "real world" exercise, in which students play the role of leaders in the countries of their choosing and write practical policy recommendations on current affairs.
Note: For Freshmen only.

Anthropology 1660 (formerly Anthropology 155). What is Islam? Anthropological Perspectives
Catalog Number: 3837 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
John S. Schoeberlein
Half course (spring term). M., W., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
How do we unpack claims such as that Islam is defined by militant Jihad or rigid adherence to Sharia law, that Islam means "peace", or that Islam is irreconcilable with modern society? The course surveys anthropological approaches to understanding the meaning of religion in Muslim societies. Reading ethnographies from Muslim societies, we will focus on Islam as lived experience, contested modernity, imagined enmities, frameworks of social order, and concepts of moral order.

Anthropology 1668. Muslims in the Lands of the "Militant Godless": Post-Socialism, Religion and Identity - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 75154
John S. Schoeberlein
Half course (fall term). W., 1–3.
By 1989, the preeminence of atheism ended in Communist countries inhabited by Muslims in Eurasia from Mongolia and China to Central Asia, Russia, and Bosnia. Two decades of "transition" have seen dramatic change in Islam’s social role. This course explores emerging fields of anthropology of post-Socialism and Islam in the former Soviet Bloc, focusing on Islam between state and society, social transformations occurring under the "transition" from Communism, and changing identities and cultural forms.

Anthropology 2690. Middle East Ethnography: Discourse, Politics, and Culture
Catalog Number: 8056 Enrollment: Limited to 18.
Smita Lahiri and Ramyar Dagoberto Rossoukh
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17, 18
The discursive construction of culture and its complex politics are examined in a wide range of ethnographies that have been writen recently on countries in the Middle East, including Lebanon, Jordan, Israel/Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, and Iran. Among the theoretical topics to be considered are orientalism, colonialism and post-colonialism, nationalism, self, gender, and tribalism.
Note: Open to undergraduates.

Uyghur A. Elementary Uyghur
Catalog Number: 8767
Mark C. Elliott
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 8:30–10.
Introduction to Uyghur, the Turkic language spoken in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and throughout Central Asia. Course covers grammar, reading and writing (in the modified Arabic alphabet adopted in the PRC), and conversation practice.

Uyghur B. Elementary Uyghur
Catalog Number: 5271
Mark C. Elliott
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 8:30–10.
Continuation of Uyghur A. Completion of basic Uyghur grammar, listening and speaking practice with the aid of audio-visual materials, selected readings from Uyghur literature and academic prose.

Economics 1341. The Historical Origins of Middle Eastern Development
Catalog Number: 9328
Eric Chaney
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 2:30–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Middle Eastern countries enjoyed world economic leadership during the Middle Ages, and continue to play an important role in the world economy. This course will explore the historical development of Middle Eastern economies. Topics include the effects of colonialism, natural resource endowments and religion on economic growth. The course will emphasize how these and other historical factors continue to influence development prospects in the region today.
Note: A research paper is required. This course meets the concentration writing requirement.
Prerequisite: Social Analysis 10

Government 20. Foundations of Comparative Politics
Catalog Number: 6166
Steven R. Levitsky
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 12
Provides an introduction to key concepts and theoretical approaches in comparative politics. Major themes include the causes of democratization, economic development, ethnic conflict, and social revolutions; as well as the role of the state, political institutions, and civil society. Examines and critically evaluates different theoretical approaches to politics including modernization, Marxist, cultural, institutionalist, and leadership-centered approaches. Compares cases from Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Latin America to provide students with grounding in the basic tools of comparative analysis.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Societies of the World or the Core area requirement for Social Analysis.

Government 50. Introduction to Political Science Research Methods
Catalog Number: 6500
Arthur P. Spirling
Half course (spring term). M., W., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Can exit polls detect election fraud? What are the determinants of political corruption? Is Islam incompatible with open government? In what sense (if any) does democracy reduce the probability of war? This course introduces basic statistical techniques used in quantitative political methodology to give scientifically rigorous answers to these questions and many others. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, sampling, estimation, hypothesis tests, and applied linear and logistic regression.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Empirical and Mathematical Reasoning or the Core requirement for Quantitative Reasoning.

*Government 90vk. Islam in Central and South Asia: Comparative Hegemonies and Liberations - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 76531
Thomas Simons
Half course (spring term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Examines the histories and current situations of Muslims in Central and South Asia. After sessions on Islam as a religion and as a civilization, it first compares their stories before and during British and Russian/Soviet rule. After a session on today’s Middle East and its Islamist extremisms, it then follows the two cohorts to the our complex present. Concluding sessions on the prospects for Islamist extremism among them and the key variables we have discovered.

Government 1204. Jihad in World Politics
Catalog Number: 3339
Jocelyne Cesari (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). W., F., at 9. EXAM GROUP: 2
The main purpose of this course is to analyze the different meanings and theories of jihad and how they influence International Relations and current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq. The course will review the use of jihad in Muslim empires and contemporary State systems, and will also analyze the modern concept of jihad in political movements like Hamas and Hizbu’llah and Al Quaida. No specific knowledge of Arabic or Islam is required.
Note: Offered jointly with the Kennedy School as IGA-333.

History 1270. Frontiers of Europe: Ukraine since 1500
Catalog Number: 1910
Serhii Plokhii
Half course (spring term). M., W., (F.), at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
The history of Ukrainian territory and its people within a broad context of political, social and cultural changes in Eastern Europe in the course of the half of a millennium. Special emphasis on the role of Ukraine as a cultural frontier of Europe, positioned on the border between settled areas and Eurasian steppes, Christianity and Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism, as well as a battleground of major imperial and national projects of modern era.

History 1285. Russia and the Great Eurasian Steppe
Catalog Number: 8443
Kelly A. O’Neill-Uzgiris
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 13
Introduction to the history of Russian interactions with the peoples and states of the Eurasian steppe from the rise of Chinggis khan to the fall of the Romanovs. Topics include the legacy of Mongol conquest, the importance of trade, and the Russian-Ottoman struggle for dominance in the region. How did the experience of Russia’s Muslim inhabitants change over time? Did Russia civilize the steppe? Emphasis on incorporating non-European voices into the narrative of Russian history.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Societies of the World or the Core requirement for Historical Study A. This course fulfills the requirement that one of the eight General Education courses also engages substantially with Study of the Past.

History 1877b (formerly *History 78b). History of the Near East, 1055-1500: Conference Course
Catalog Number: 3026 Enrollment: Limited to 20.
Roy Mottahedeh
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Surveys history of the Near East from the coming of the steppe peoples to the Ottoman conquest of Egypt. Includes Seljuks, Crusades, Mongols, and the fall of the Abbasid caliphate, Mamluks, the development of Mediterranean and Indian Ocean trade, and the Timurids and their successors.
Prerequisite: History 1877a helpful, but not required.

History 1878a. Ottoman State and Society I (1300–1550)
Catalog Number: 5471
Cemal Kafadar
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., (F.), at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4, 13
Surveys the emergence of the Ottoman state from a frontier principality into a world empire in its sociopolitical and cultural contexts. Topics include pre-Ottoman Anatolia; frontier society; methods of conquest; centralization of power; classical institutions of the land regime and of the central administration; urbanization; religion and literature. Relations with Byzantium, other Islamic states, and Europe are examined.

History 1891. Understanding the Middle East since 1945: The Basic Socio-Economic and Political Structures - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 56932
E. Roger Owen
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 12
The aim of the course is to set out the main structures and processes which underlie the contemporary political and economic systems in the Middle East, including the Arab countries, Iran, Israel and Turkey. For the Arab countries these include the development of the ’security state’ with its associated practices of crony capitalism, managed elections and controlled opposition, as well as a particular style of conducting intra-Arab relations. For the non-Arabs, pluralism, civil/military relations and political religion.

History 2882. Readings in the History of Iraq, 1900-2006: Seminar
Catalog Number: 4735
E. Roger Owen
Half course (spring term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Readings selected to provide an understanding of Iraq’s 20th-century political and socio-economic history.

History 2885. Introduction to Archival Research in Ottoman History: Proseminar
Catalog Number: 3274
Cemal Kafadar
Half course (spring term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
A survey of archival collections related to Ottoman history. Introduction to the archives of the central government, pious endowments, provincial administrations, and court records.
Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Turkish.

History 2887b. Debates in the Political and Ideological History of the Middle East: Seminar
Catalog Number: 4102
E. Roger Owen
Half course (fall term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Major questions and debates in modern Arab political and ideological writings including Orientalism, Arab and local nationalism, religious revival, power and authority, and the difficulties of establishing democratic institutions.

History of Art and Architecture 121k. Islamic Ornament and the Aesthetics of Abstraction - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 87224 Enrollment: Limited to 12.
Gülru Necipoglu-Kafadar
Half course (spring term). W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
In conjunction with a Harvard conference on "Ornament" in fall 2010, critically explores interpretations of Islamic ornament. Themes include orientalism and ornamentalism, discourses on the "arabesque," resonances of non-figural abstraction with modernism and postmodern aesthetics.

History of Art and Architecture 222m. Architecture in the Early Modern Mediterranean World: A Cross-Cultural Perspective - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 20595 Enrollment: Limited to 12.
Gülru Necipoglu-Kafadar and Alina A. Payne
Half course (fall term). W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
Architecture of the eastern Mediterranean basin (at Italian, Ottoman, and Mamluk courts) with emphasis on cross-cultural encounters and transmission of the Romano-Byzantine heritage, science and technology, architectural practice, ornament, urban design, military, religious and domestic architecture.

History of Science 109. Science and Religion in the Middle East: Historical and Contemporary Debates
Catalog number: History of Science 109
Ahmed Ragab
Half course (fall term). M., 2-4., Science Center 469
This course addresses the interactions, dialogues and debates of science, philosophy and religion in the Middle East from the medieval period to the present and how such debates were manifest in various economic and sociopolitical situations and in legal and philosophical questions. The course devotes a number of sessions to discuss case studies representing various historical and contemporary questions. The course will provide a chance to analyze such debates firsthand by engaging the primary sources. Through individual meetings and discussion sessions, the course will accommodate and encoura ge students to pursue various interests and to use the course in their own research projects.

History of Science 161. The Scientific Revolution
Catalog Number: 2868
Mario Biagioli
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
Examines the interrelated transformations in 16th- and 17th-century astronomy, cosmography, mathematics, medicine, and natural history. Places works of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Descartes in the context of the scientific traditions of ancient Greece and medieval Islam as revived by Renaissance humanists. Analyzes recent historiographical criticisms of the Scientific Revolution as "grand narrative" versus the particularism of micro-history. Adopts contemporary divisions of knowledge and differentiates concepts, practices, and rates of change within each scientific field as alternative interpretation.

Music 190r. Topics in World Music: Proseminar
Catalog Number: 1312
Richard K. Wolf
Half course (fall term). M., 1–3.
Music in Islamic Contexts: South and West Asia. Explores what it means for musical cultures to share Islam as a common context by examining musical cultures and issues pertaining to the Muslim world as a whole.
Note: For music concentrators or permission of instructor.

Early Iranian Civilizations 102. Old Iranian Religion/Zoroastrianism
Catalog Number: 5408
P. Oktor Skjaervo
Half course (spring term). F., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Introduction to and readings in Mazdaism/Zoroastrianism (on the basis of translated texts).
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3663a.

Early Iranian Civilizations 103. Manicheism
Catalog Number: 2604
P. Oktor Skjaervo
Half course (fall term). F., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Introduction to and readings in Iranian Manicheism (on the basis of translated texts).
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3580.

Jewish Studies 135. Jewish-Arab Encounters: the Classical Age
Catalog Number: 3448
Bernard Septimus
Half course (fall term). Th., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
An examination of Jewish-Arab cultural exchange against its socio-political backdrop, from the pre-Islamic period through the thirteenth century. Topics include: perceptions of the other; social relations; polemics; conversions; interchange in the realms of religion, law, literature, philosophy and mysticism; the end of the classical age. These topics will be explored through primary sources in translation.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Culture and Belief or the Core area requirement for Historical Study B. This course fulfills the requirement that one of the eight General Education courses also engages substantially with Study of the Past.

Islamic Civilizations 145. Introduction to Islamic Philosophy and Theology
Catalog Number: 0292
Khaled El-Rouayheb
Half course (fall term). Th., 3–5, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
An introductory survey of the development of Islamic theology and philosophy. We will examine and discuss some of the central problems that were much debated through the centuries, such as: the relationship between philosophy and faith; whether humans possess free will; how to understand apparently anthropomorphic expressions in Scripture; whether acts are good because God commands them or God commands them because they are good; and proofs for the existence of God.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3602.

*Islamic Civilizations 241r. Approaches to Studying Indo-Muslim Culture and South Asian Islam
Catalog Number: 7515
Ali S. Asani
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
A seminar for graduate students focusing on current scholarship on Islamic civilization in South Asia.
Note: Open to undergraduates with a background in Islamic or South Asian studies.
Prerequisite: Introductory coursework on Islam, Religion 1820 or equivalent.

Arabic A. Elementary Arabic
Catalog Number: 5773
Mostafa Atamnia and staff
Full course (indivisible). M., through F., at 9, 10, 11, or 12. EXAM GROUP: 2, 11
Introduces students to the phonology and script of classical/modern standard Arabic and covers the basic morphology and syntax of the written language. Emphasis on the development of the four skills (reading, speaking, listening, and writing). Samples of modern (contemporary) and classical styles of writing introduced into basic syllabus, and audio-visual material from the contemporary Arabic media.
Note: Not open to auditors. Cannot be taken pass/fail. Cannot divide for credit. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4345.

Arabic Ba (formerly Arabic 120a and 121a). Intermediate Arabic I
Catalog Number: 1106
William E. Granara and staff
Half course (fall term). M. through F., at 10, 11, or 12. EXAM GROUP: 3, 12
A thorough review and continuation of literary (classic and modern) Arabic grammar with emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension. Course materials draw from both classical and modern Arabic literature and culture.
Note: Not open to auditors. Cannot be taken pass/fail. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4351.
Prerequisite: Arabic A or equivalent.

Arabic Bb (formerly Arabic 120b and 121b). Intermediate Arabic II
Catalog Number: 0973
William E. Granara and staff
Half course (spring term). M., through F., at 10, 11, or 12. EXAM GROUP: 3, 12
A continuation of Arabic Ba.
Note: Not open to auditors. Cannot be taken pass/fail. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4361.
Prerequisite: Arabic A or equivalent.

Arabic 130a. Upper-Level Classical Arabic I
Catalog Number: 4591
Khaled El-Rouayheb
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 11:30–1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
Introduces students to styles and genres of pre-modern Arabic literary heritage, including a systematic review of classical grammar. Readings include historiographical, geographical and biographical texts, as well as readings from "Adab" (Belles-Lettres) literature and classical Arabic poetry.
Note: Not open to auditors. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4353.
Prerequisite: Arabic Ba or equivalent, or may be taken separately with permission of the instructor.

Arabic 130b. Upper-Level Classical Arabic II
Catalog Number: 2964
Khaled El-Rouayheb
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 11:30–1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
A continuation of Arabic 130a with emphasis on classical Islamic texts, Qur’an, hadîth, sîra, and tafsîr literature; review of advanced classical Arabic morphology and syntax.
Note: Not open to auditors. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4354.
Prerequisite: Arabic 130a or equivalent, or may be taken separately with permission of the instructor.

Arabic 131a. Upper-Level Modern Arabic l
Catalog Number: 0739
Sayed Abdallah Ali Elsisi
Half course (fall term). M., Tu., W., Th., at 12, and 1. EXAM GROUP: 5, 14
Reading and discussion of selections from Arabic newspapers and journals on contemporary political, social, religious, and cultural issues in the Arab world. Emphasis on developing advanced reading and speaking skills, with some attention to writing and listening comprehension.
Note: Not open to auditors. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4363.
Prerequisite: Arabic Ba or equivalent.

Arabic 131b. Upper-Level Modern Arabic II
Catalog Number: 0697
Sayed Abdallah Ali Elsisi
Half course (spring term). M., Tu., W., Th., at 12. EXAM GROUP: 5, 14
A continuation of Arabic 131a or may be taken separately with permission of the instructor. Continued emphasis on advanced reading and speaking skills, and introduction to contemporary Arabic fiction, with emphasis on short stories and essays.
Note: Not open to auditors. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 4364.
Prerequisite: Arabic 131a or equivalent.

Arabic 133. Upper-Level Spoken Modern Standard Arabic
Catalog Number: 4747
Sayed Abdallah Ali Elsisi
Half course (fall term). M., W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
This course emphasizes the development of advanced speaking and listening skills by exposing students to the contemporary media and academia. Some reading and writing will be required, but classes will revolve around oral presentations and directed conversations.
Note: Not open to auditors.
Prerequisite: Two years of Standard Arabic or the equivalent.

Arabic 135. Colloquial Egyptian Arabic
Catalog Number: 4454
Sayed Abdallah Ali Elsisi
Half course (spring term). M., W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
Introduces students to Egyptian Arabic, the most widely recognized dialect in the Arab world. The course emphasizes the development of speaking and listening skills through the reinforcement of grammar and vocabulary.
Note: Not open to auditors. Students who have completed Arabic 134 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite: Two years of Standard Arabic or the equivalent.

Arabic 146r. History of the Arabic Languages
Catalog Number: 8526
Wolfhart P. Heinrichs
Half course (spring term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
A presentation of the linguistic and cultural history of the various forms of Arabic, including Old North Arabian, Early Classical Arabic (pre-Islamic poetry and Koran), medieval Islamic Arabic, Middle Arabic (with Judeo-Arabic) and the dialects.
Prerequisite: Two years of Arabic or equivalent.

Arabic 150r. History of Classical Arabic Literature: Seminar
Catalog Number: 7759
Wolfhart P. Heinrichs
Half course (spring term). W., 2–4.
Overview of Classical Arabic literature, including reading and discussion of selected texts.
Note: Knowledge of Arabic advantageous but not required. An additional hour may be set aside for reading in the originals.

Arabic 158. Modern Arabic Literature Seminar: Lebanese Civil War in Fiction
Catalog Number: 5145
William E. Granara
Half course (fall term). W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
Examines the roots and issues of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-90) and its enormous impact on modern Arabic fiction. The syllabus pairs realistic and romanticized representations of family, sectarian, and gender binaries against the destruction and fantasy of the urban landscape. Themes include nostalgia and memory, exile and return. Films and documentaries will also be viewed.
Note: Arabic helpful but not required. Open to both undergraduates and graduates.

Arabic 162. Introduction to the Modern Arab World: Foundations of the Modern Age, 1798 to 1920
Catalog Number: 5643
William E. Granara and staff
Half course (fall term). M., W., at 10, an additional hour to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 3
A survey of significant events and issues in the modern Arab world from the later years of the Ottoman Empire to the eve of WWI. Topics include the Arab renaissance, the challenges of modernity, reformist movements, colonialism, and the emergence of the modern nation states.
Note: No knowledge of Arabic required, but bilingual sectioning will be provided for students who select to read primary sources either in Arabic or English.

Arabic 170. Introduction to the Arab World II: Politics, Religion, and Culture from World War I to Present
Catalog Number: 9471
William E. Granara and staff
Half course (spring term). M., W., at 10, and an additional hour to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 3
The course examines the major intellectual, political and sociocultural trends in the Arab world, from the anti-colonial struggle to self-determination. Topics include Arab nationalism, political reform, cultural production, economic development, and the emergence of the Arabian Gulf.
Note: Bi-lingual sectioning will be provided for students who select to read primary sources either in Arabic or English.

Arabic 240r. Classical Arabic Philology
Catalog Number: 5920
Wolfhart P. Heinrichs
Full course (indivisible). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Arabic philology, including discussion of difficult grammatical problems, introduction to manuscript and editorial work, and readings from the ‘ulûm al-lugha (fall) and ‘ulûm al-dîn (spring).
Note: This constitutes the fourth and final year of the Classical Arabic track.

Arabic 241ar. Advanced Modern Arabic Bridge: Language, Literature, and Culture I
Catalog Number: 3309
Khaled Al-Masri
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 11:30–1, and an additional hour to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
This constitutes the final year of Modern Arabic track. Representative readings from contemporary literature and culture will form bases of discussions on major themes in contemporary Arab society.
Note: Conducted in Arabic. Not open to auditors.
Prerequisite: Advanced proficiency in Arabic.

Arabic 245r. Classical Arabic Literature: Seminar
Catalog Number: 4854
Wolfhart P. Heinrichs
Half course (fall term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Topic for 2008-09: TBA
Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Arabic.

Arabic 248r. Medieval Arabic Writings on Literary Theory and Criticism: Seminar
Catalog Number: 1440
Wolfhart P. Heinrichs
Half course (fall term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Introduction to the study of the medieval Arabic disciplines dealing with literature. Discussion of selected topics on the basis of text readings and recent secondary literature.
Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Arabic.

Arabic 249r. Arabic Philosophical Texts: Seminar
Catalog Number: 3572
Khaled El-Rouayheb
Half course (spring term). Th., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
An introduction to Arabic Logic.
Prerequisite: Three years of Arabic or equivalent.

Persian A. Elementary Persian
Catalog Number: 8143
Dalia Yasharpour
Full course (indivisible). M., W., F., at 10, and two additional hours to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 3
Introduction to the grammar of modern literary and spoken Persian. Selected readings from contemporary and classical Persian literature.

Persian 120a. Intermediate Persian I
Catalog Number: 2206
Dalia Yasharpour
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 11, and two additional hours to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 4
Readings in modern prose literature. Introduction to classical metrics and prosody. Readings in classical prose and poetry.

Persian 120b. Intermediate Persian II
Catalog Number: 3712
Dalia Yasharpour
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 11, and two additional hours to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 4
Continuation of Persian 120a.

Persian 131r. Advanced Persian
Catalog Number: 0258
Dalia Yasharpour
Half course (fall term). M., W., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Readings from modern Persian prose and poetry and discussion of Iranian movies and documentaries inspired by them.
Prerequisite: Persian 120b or equivalent.

Semitic Philology 151. Introduction to Northwest Semitic Epigraphy
Catalog Number: 2858
Instructor to be determined
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Readings in Hebrew and Phoenician inscriptions with an introduction to methods and techniques of Northwest Semitic palaeography, and attention to problems of historical grammar.
Prerequisite: Classical Hebrew 138 or Semitic Philology 140.

Semitic Philology 220r. Northwest Semitic Epigraphy: Seminar
Catalog Number: 2948
Instructor to be determined
Half course (spring term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Topic for 2009-2010: Punic child sacrifice texts.
Prerequisite: Semitic Philology 151.

Turkish 120a. Intermediate Modern Turkish I
Catalog Number: 4009
Himmet Taskomur
Half course (fall term). M. through F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3, 12
Emphasis on complex sentence structure and building communicative competence in describing events and expressing ideas through exercises in reading, writing, and speaking.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2010–11. Not open to auditors.
Prerequisite: Turkish A or equivalent.

Turkish 120b. Intermediate Modern Turkish II
Catalog Number: 1394
Himmet Taskomur
Half course (spring term). M. through F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3, 12
Studies in argumentative and literary prose.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2010–11. Not open to auditors.
Prerequisite: Turkish 120a or equivalent.

Turkish 121a. Elementary Uzbek
Catalog Number: 3006
William E. Granara and assistant
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged; four meetings per week.
Introduction to conversational and literary Uzbek. Overview of the grammar, intensive practice of the spoken language, and reading of contemporary texts.
Note: Some knowledge of Modern Turkish or other Turkic language helpful but not required.

Turkish 121b. Elementary Uzbek II
Catalog Number: 7303
William E. Granara and assistant
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged; four meetings per week.
Continuation of Turkish 121a.
Note: Some knowledge of Modern Turkish or other Turkic language helpful but not required.

Turkish 125a. Intermediate Uzbek I
Catalog Number: 2947
William E. Granara and assistant
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Continuation of Elementary Uzbek with an emphasis on further development of both conversational and literary Uzbek.
Prerequisite: Turkish 121b or equivalent.

Turkish 125b. Intermediate Uzbek II
Catalog Number: 0125
William E. Granara and assistant
Half course (spring term). M., 2–4, Th., 4–6.
A continuation of Turkish 125a.
Prerequisite: Turkish 125a or equivalent.

Turkish 130r (formerly Turkish 130a). Advanced Turkish
Catalog Number: 6964
Himmet Taskomur
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Gaining and improving advanced language skills in Modern Turkish through reading, writing, listening, and speaking with special emphasis on the proper usage of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
Note: Not open to auditors.
Prerequisite: Turkish 120b or equivalent.

Turkish 140a. Introduction to Ottoman Turkish I
Catalog Number: 8163
Himmet Taskomur
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Introduction to basic orthographic conventions and grammatical characteristics of Ottoman Turkish through readings in printed selections from the 19th and 20th centuries, and exercises on techniques.
Note: Not open to auditors.

Prerequisite: Turkish A or equivalent; one year of Arabic or Persian desirable.

Religion 11. World Religions Today: Diaspora, Diversity and Dialogue
Catalog Number: 4811
Diana L. Eck
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
An introduction to five of the world’s religious traditions --Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim-- through the voices of modern adherents and interpreters of the tradition. Readings from Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Emil Fackenheim, Pope John Paul II, Tariq Ramadan, and others. How do people in each tradition articulate their faith in the context of globalization, pluralism, and the issues of today? What are the tensions within traditions? What are the dialogues between traditions?
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3220.

Religion 16 (formerly Religion 1004). Religious Dimensions in Human Experience
Catalog Number: 9089
Davíd L. Carrasco
Half course (fall term). W., 1–3.
Study of major themes in the history of religions including religious experience, society and cosmic law, ritual violence and the body, the trickster, search for the soul. Readings focus on the tension between personal memoirs and the social construction of religion in Islam, Judaism, Christian, American Indian, African American and Latino traditions. Introduction to theoretical approaches of M. Jackson, Durkheim, Eliade, Berger, J.Z. Smith, Doniger, and Nandy.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3160.

*Religion 1024. Tomb, Relic, and Transcendence: Seminar
Catalog Number: 6792 Enrollment: Limited to 15. Written application at the first course meeting.
Kimberley C. Patton (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). W., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
This seminar deals with the doctrines of transcendence vs. practices of incarnation through the "special dead”: heroes, saints, and the awakened. Ancient Greek hero cult; Christian saints’ tombs and relics; Islamic popular shrines of the "friends of God"; Buddhism (the 84,000 stupas of Ashoka; the relics of the Buddha). Topics include corruption and incorruptibility; collective blessing and fertility; mediation between realms; tombs as foci of pilgrimage and prayer; relics as talisman; earthly "traces" of holy persons.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3814.

Religion 1041. Tradition and Ethics in a Comparative Perspective - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 39325
Jonathan Schofer (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 10–11:30.
This course begins with prominent approaches to tradition and ethics in contemporary scholarship (MacIntyre and Stout). Then, we critically examine the concept of tradition through research in social theory and the study of religion. The later readings examine tradition and ethics in several religions and cultures, including Judaism, Islam, the Kodi of Indonesia, and contemporary Mayan communities.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3728.

Religion 1433. Christianity Along the Silk Road - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 65379
Charles Stang (Divinity School)
Half course (spring term). Tu., 1–3, weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
This course will introduce students to the ancient and medieval expansion of Christianity eastward from Syria to China by tracing the history of the so-called "Nestorian" Church, or "Church of the East." Particular attention will be paid to the emergence of this church community in the wake of the Christological controversies of the 5th century and its intellectual heritage in Antioch. Subsequent units will focus on particular areas where the Church of the East established itself, including Syria, Persia, India, Central Asia along the Silk Road, and finally Tibet, China, and Mongolia. Considerable attention will be paid to the interactions between Christianity and other religions in these areas, including Judaism, Islam, Manichaeism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 1753.

Religion 1802 (formerly Religion 1555). Introduction to Islamic Mysticism: The Sufi Tradition
Catalog Number: 3830
Ali S. Asani
Half course (spring term). Th., 3–5, and hour to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 17, 18
Introductory survey of Sufism, focusing on its fundamental concepts, ritual practices, institutions, and its impact on literary and sociopolitical life in different regions of the Islamic world.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3620.
Prerequisite: An introductory course in Islam or equivalent helpful but not essential.

*Religion 1816. Ismaili History and Thought - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 18808 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Ali S. Asani
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
A seminar surveying the development and evolution of Ismaili interpretations of Islam in various historical and cultural settings.
Prerequisite: Prior study of Islam or permission by instructor required.

*Religion 1820 (formerly *Religion 1585). Muslim Societies in South Asia: Religion, Culture, and Identity
Catalog Number: 2741 Enrollment: Limited to 20.
Ali S. Asani
Half course (spring term). Th., 3–5.
South Asia is home to the largest concentration of Muslims in the world. This course surveys the development of Muslim communities in the region focusing on an exploration of their identities in diverse contexts. Issues and themes will be considered within religious and socio-political contexts, as well as the broader framework of South Asian culture as expressed in language, literature, and the arts. The course also examines various ways in which the terms "Islamic" and "Muslim" are understood in pre-modern and modern discourses as well as the lived experiences of being Muslim in contemporary India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3625. This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Culture and Belief or Societies of the World, but not both. This course fulfills the requirement that one of the eight General Education courses also engages substantially with Study of the Past.
Prerequisite: Introductory course in Islam or equivalent.

Religion 1825 (formerly Religion 1590). Themes in Feminism and Islam: A Historical Overview
Catalog Number: 9891
Leila N. Ahmed (Divinity School)
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
This course follows out the history of feminist debates and developments in Islam from beginnings in 19th century Egypt to contemporary and ongoing discussions of women, gender and Islam in the United States.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3604.

Urdu 101. Introductory Urdu-Hindi
Catalog Number: 4078
Richard S. Delacy
Full course (indivisible). M. through Th., (F.), at 10; M. through Th., (F.), at 3. EXAM GROUP: 3, 12
An introduction to the lingua franca of the subcontinent in its "Hindustani” form. Students are introduced to both the Perso-Arabic and the Devanagari script systems. Conventional teaching materials are supplemented by popular songs and video clips from Bollywood.
Note: Not open to auditors.

Urdu 102. Intermediate Urdu-Hindi
Catalog Number: 2941
Naseem A. Hines
Full course (indivisible). M. through Th., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4, 13
Continuation of Urdu 101. Emphasis on written expression and texts in both Perso-Arabic and Devanagari script systems. Students are introduced to Urdu/Hindi fables, short stories, and various other genres of literature, including poetry.
Note: Not open to auditors.
Prerequisite: Urdu 101 or equivalent.

Urdu 103a. Advanced Urdu-Hindi
Catalog Number: 0700
Amy Bard
Half course (fall term). M., W., Th., at 4. EXAM GROUP: 9, 18
Continuation of Urdu 102; covers topics in advanced grammar; designed to improve proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: Urdu 102 or equivalent.

Urdu 103b. Advanced Urdu-Hindi
Catalog Number: 4615
Amy Bard
Half course (spring term). M., W., Th., at 4. EXAM GROUP: 9, 18
Continuation of Urdu 103a.

Urdu 105r. Topics in Urdu-Hindi Literature
Catalog Number: 5963
Ali S. Asani and Naseem A. Hines
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
A course for students with native or near-native proficiency with readings in a variety of genres from Urdu and/or Hindi literature based on student interest.

Urdu 106r. Advanced Oral Proficiency in Urdu-Hindi - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 70789
Naseem A. Hines
Half course (fall term; repeated spring term). Hours to be arranged.
A course intended to raise levels of oral proficiency for advanced students and consolidate command over complex grammatical structures. By the end of the term, students will be expected to converse in a clearly participatory fashion, initiate, sustain and bring closure to a wide variety of communicative tasks using diverse strategies.
Prerequisite: Urdu 103 or Instructor’s permission.

*Social Studies 98lg. Islam in Germany, France and the United States - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 53641 Enrollment: Limited to 10.
Melanie Adrian
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
This course looks at contemporary Muslim identity in Germany, France and the United States. After situating Islam historically and conceptually, we will examine themes such as secularism, interpretation, and modernity through the lenses of Muslims and the non-minority national communities. We will use texts from a variety of disciplines including anthropology, religious studies, sociology, and political science.
Note: This course will be lotteried.

*Social Studies 98li. Ethnic and Religious Conflict in East and South Asia - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 12939 Enrollment: Limited to 10.
Kevin N. Caffrey
Half course (fall term). W., 3–5.
The course will examine cultural, social, and political manifestations of difference and context in confrontation by examining cases of ethnic and religious conflict from East, Southeast, and South Asia. We will first examine dominant understandings of difference in these regions, then we will read ethnographic examples from the region. This will bring our attention to recent issues of ethno-religious discord in Sri Lankan civil war; communal violence in India; ethnic wars in Burma (Myanmar); discord among the Muslim, Tibetan, and Han Chinese; the Acehnese struggle for independence in Indonesia; and Muslim "insurgency" in both the Philippines and southern Thailand. The course will bring critical attention to bear on the issues of ethnicity, religion, and conflict in a trajectory from imperial/colonial to national settings across Asia.

Half Course, Fall 2009, Th., 3-5 and weekly section to be arranged
Location to be announced.

An introductory survey of the development of Islamic theology and philosophy. We will examine and discuss some of the central problems that were much debated through the centuries, such as: the relationship between philosophy and faith; whether humans possess free will; how to understand apparently anthropomorphic expressions in Scripture; whether acts are good because God commands them or God commands them because they are good; and proofs for the existence of God.
Jointly offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Islamic Civilizations 145

This course follows out the history of feminist themes and debates in Islam from their first emergence in the Middle East in the late 19th century to their ongoing development in America in the 21st century.

Half Course, Fall 2009, M., W., at 10 and hour to be arranged
Location to be announced.

A survey of significant events and issues in the modern Arab world from the later years of the Ottoman Empire to the eve of WWI. Topics include the Arab renaissance, the challenges of modernity, reformist movements, colonialism, and the emergence of the modern nation states. Note: No knowledge of Arabic required, but bilingual sectioning will be provided for students who may select to read primary sources either in Arabic or English.
Jointly offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Arabic 162

South Asia is home to the largest concentration of Muslims in the world. This course surveys the development of Muslim communities in the region focusing on an exploration of their identities in diverse contexts. Issues and themes will be considered within religious and socio-political contexts, as well as the broader framework of South Asian cultures as expressed in language, literature, and the arts. The course also examines various ways in which the terms "Islamic" and "Muslim" are defined in pre-modern and modern discourses in South Asia.
Jointly offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Religion 1820

Half Course, Spring 2010, M., W., at 10 and hour to be arranged
Location to be announced.

The course examines the major intellectual, political and sociocultural trends in the Arab world, from the anti-colonial struggle to self-determination. Topics include Arab nationalism, political reform, cultural production, economic development, and the emergence of the Arabian Gulf. Note: Bi-lingual sectioning will be provided for students who may select to read primary sources either in Arabic or English.

Half Course, Spring 2010, T., Th., 11:30-1 and hour to be arranged
Location to be announced.

The course surveys the literary and artistic dimensions of the devotional life of the world's Muslim communities, focusing on the role of literature and the arts (poetry, music, architecture, calligraphy, etc) as expressions of piety and socio-political critique. An important aim of the course is to explore the relationships between religion, literature and the arts in a variety of historical and cultural contexts in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Europe and America. Note: Assumes no prior knowledge of Islam.

Jointly offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Culture and Belief 12

This course is designed to acquaint students with the various kinds of theological encounter that have characterized Christian-Muslim relations since the early days of Islam. It will cover scripture and interpretation, theological writings from the 8th to the 20th centuries, ways in which political engagement has colored theological interpretation, recent discussions of religious pluralism, and forms of theological dialogue. Basic knowledge of Islam is desirable but not required.

European and American public discourses on Islam is a microcosm of the debate on Islams compatibility with the West. Because Western countries generally associate Islam with the Al-Qaida movement, the Palestinian issue, and Iran, their discussion of the religion involves the a politicized approach to a multifaceted faith. In the same time, the situation of Islam in the West cannot be disconnected from the political and religious contexts of Muslims in the Muslim world. The course will proceed in two ways. First, we will look at both the politics and rhetoric of policy makers that shape the situation of Muslim minorities in the West, especially in the domain of multiculturalism and regulation of religious practices with analysis of case studies like the the headscarf crisis, the cartoons controversy or the "Sharia debate". Next, it will present and discuss premiere data on the attitudes of Muslim populations in Europe and in the US on issues such as religious identity, political participation, and discrimination and how the post 9/11 influence their religiosity, civic participation and connection with the Muslim world.

Half Course, Spring 2010, M., W., at 9 and hour to be arranged
Location to be announced.

The purpose of this course is to analyze the different theories of jihad in the Islamic tradition and their influences on International Relations since the second world war. It will discuss the differences between holy war, just war and jihad. The course will focus on jihad in contemporary state systems, and will also analyze the use of jihad in movements like Hamas, Hizbullah, and Al Quaida. Note: No specific knowledge of Arabic or Islam is required.
Jointly offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Government 1204

Muslim jurists have developed a set of rules concerning the protocol of the gaze on the female and the male body, women's and men's purity, rules on the way in which men and women are supposed to marry, to establish the affiliation of their children, to inherit, to witness before court, to participate in public life. During the course we will follow the history of these norms and the change of meaning and function that they underwent in different types of social order that were historically established in what is now called the Muslim world. We will review the colonial and post-colonial period, the reform of personal status law and of the law concerning gender relations that has taken place since the nineteenth century and the way in which modern Muslim feminist over the last twenty years has started to reinterpret the legacy of Muslim law in a way that gives it new dimensions and opens new horizons for its understanding.

Explores the major political, economic, social, and security challenges facing â€“ and emanating from â€“ the Middle East. Particular attention paid to the durability of the regions authoritarian governments and to the fragility of its national economies. Attempts to understand the extent to which these challenges are a function of colonial legacies, Islam, peculiarities of the physical environment, demographic patterns, cultures of patriarchy, the distortions of foreign aid and oil wealth, the machinations of great powers, or other factors. Embraces a variety of theoretical and empirical literatures, including translated works by Middle Eastern commentators, politicians, and social theorists. Students will emerge from the course with both an understanding of a region whose geopolitical importance â€“ to the United States and the world â€“ shows no sign of waning, and a grounding in some of the principal analytic approaches in the study of comparative political systems.

Religion is clearly a force to be reckoned with in global politics. At the same time, its connection to peace, conflict, and international security is not well understood. This course starts by addressing the meaning of religion and its various manifestations around the world. It then seeks to examine the conditions under which religion contributes to conflict or cooperation in selected aspects of international politics, such as the spread of nationalism and terrorism, economic and political development, and human rights, as well as in enforcing, making, and building international peace. By the end of the course, students will have a full sense of the interplay of religion with politics, wars, and peace in the international system.
Also offered by the Divinity School as HDS-2818 and by the Govt. Department as Gov 2125.

This course analyzes the different meanings and theories of jihad and how they influence international relations and current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq. The course will review the use of jihad in Muslim empires and contemporary State systems, and will also analyze the modern concept of jihad in political movements like Hamas and Hizbullah and Al Quaida. No specific knowledge of Arabic or Islam is required.
Also offered by the Government department as Gov 1204.

This course analyzes various stages of international relations in the Middle East from World War I to the present, focusing on the interaction of four key factors in each stage: 1) Great Power policies; 2) the Arab-Israeli conflict; 3) regional rivalries (among Arab states and in the Persian Gulf) and the transnational ideologies that fuel them (Pan-Arabism, Islam); and 4) domestic politics of the concerned states. In each of the stages these four factors combined in different ways to produce distinct political agendas and international outcomes. We will concentrate on a number of topics: the development of the state system in the region and the challenges to it; transnational ideological factors in conflict and alliance behavior; the causes of war and peace; and the effect of domestic political and economic change on the foreign policy behavior of the regions states.&n bsp;The course concludes with an assessment of a number of efforts by scholars to provide a synthetic framework for understanding the dynamics of the international politics of the region from different theoretical perspectives.

Spring term, Block I/K, T,Th 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
3 classroom credits LAW-39875A

The course introduces beginners to the history of the fiqh, a system of legal and ethical norms that draws its authority from its interpretation of the revealed texts of Islam. Three characteristics of the fiqh will be difficult to understand for law students : 1. the religious ritual is an integral part of the law ; 2. legal scholars, not political legislators, have over the long history of the fiqh produced its norms ; 3. the legal scholars dissent over the norms of the fiqh and such a dissent is taken to be entirely conform with the law. The fact that legal reasoning in Islam took place in this conceptual framework has played an important role in the 20th century debates on the relation of Islamic law to the law codes of the modern national states.

But the norms of the fiqh are not centered exclusively on the religious character of the legal norms. It is the specific task of the legal norms to distinguish between the different members of the Muslim political community and, at the same time, to integrate them into the political body of Islam. This task assigns great importance to legal concepts that integrate adherents of different religions, cultures and ethnic groups into the Muslim political community and transcend social differences. Such concepts as (( political contract )), property, legal personality, legal capacity, kinship and affiliation fulfill this function. Religious distinctions, on the other hand, find their clearest expression in the rules governing the religious ritual, marriage, taxation and the law of proof and procedure.

The course will be divided into three sections. The first one, consisting of sessions 1-3, will treat the historical emergence of the Muslim fiqh during the first 200 years of Islamic history. It will discuss the political and social challenges that the fiqh had to answer and how the literature of the Muslim fiqh -- that comes into being during the eighth century -- defines and limits the interaction of adherents of different religious communities within the Muslim empire and distinguishes it from the relation of the Muslim empire with foreign powers.

The second section, consisting of sessions four to eight, will treat the fiqh's notion of the legal actors in the field of obligations, in commercial transactions, in social relations and under the penal law. It will discuss the concept of rights and obligations in these different fields. Session 8 in this section will discuss the mechanism of change of the law and the theories concerning it that the fiqh developed from the 10th to the 14th century.

The third section of the course, comprising the sessions 9-11, covers the colonial and the post-colonial period and the codification of the law of the national states. It treats in particular the civil codes and the personal status law, the penal law and the efforts to find Islamic law justifications for the new codes. The eleventh session is dedicated to the constitutionalization of Islamic Law since the 1970s and its relations with the codified law of Muslim national states.

Session 12 is reserved for the discussion of the students' projects for their term papers.

Fall term, Block C, T,W 10:20 AM - 11:50 AM
3 classroom credits LAW-39885A

The lectures build upon one particular aspect of a vast issue that is very much at the core of the debate in Europe today: how to conceive the future of our (multicultural) societies in terms of peaceful cohabitation with the many newly-immigrated communities from all over the world? In class, we will focus on the position of new religious minorities in that debate, and of Muslims in particular who have settled in Europe.

Our endeavours with this class are basically twofold:

In a first part, we will explain to the students some of the main reasons for the present lack of adaptation of legal techniques in (mainly continental) Europe, largely an inheritance of the past, to handle issues related to the recognition of newly immigrated legal cultures from outside Europe claiming the protection of State law. These claims may be particularly provocative when it comes to granting recognition to discriminatory legal traditions and systems.

In a second part, I will explicate some solutions to this vast problem by referring to concretes cases that illustrate the way(s) lawyers in several European countries today eventually grant protection under State law to rules of behaviour and legal institutions that are inspired by Islamic family law and that are (still) binding in many Muslim countries over the world today. The illustrations will also make clear the many difficulties that go with it (i.e. with this protection). In class we will focus on Dutch, French, German and Belgian case law.

Exam Format: Paper in lieu of examination
Materials: Selected bibliography and case law (will be provided)

Spring 2, 2.5 credits, Lectures, case studies. Two 2-hour sessions each week.
This is a second level class which builds on the material covered in GHP 272 (Foundations of Global Population and Health) and GHP 220 (Introduction to Demographic Methods). Students are introduced to the core literature in this field through lectures, readings presented in a course packet, case studies and other sources. Together, these provide a graduate-level introduction to the concepts underlying reproductive health and to the essential methods used for the analysis of fertility and reproductive problems. The emphasis throughout is on understanding the key processes, models and assumptions used primarily for the analysis of fertility and reproductive health in developing countries. Several case studies, including major interventions to improve reproductive health, are presented in detail. Practical training will be given through homework exercises, a mid-term and a final examination. Examples are drawn mostly from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Middle East. Useful for MPH students interested in fertility and reproductive health in developing countries.
Course Notes: There are no formal prerequisites for this course but students are expected to have a working knowledge of Excel or an equivalent spreadsheet package for the analysis and graphical display of demographic data. No auditors.

Spring 1, 2.5 credits, Lectures, seminars, case discussion, lab sessions, One 2-hour session each week. Two 2-hour lab each week.
GHP 535 is a second level class which builds on the material covered in the GHP 272 Foundations of Global Population and Health, GHP 220 Introduction to Demographic methods, GHP 506 Measuring population health and GHP 507 Population health risk factors. It has been designed for those seeking more advanced training in demographic methods and analysis and is particularly recommended for doctoral students in the Population and Reproductive Health Concentration. Students are introduced to the commonly used methods through review of the literature in interactive lectures, assigned readings (3-4 per session), case studies and web-based sources. The most important part of the course is the application of a variety of analytic methods to cases chosen mostly from Africa and the Middle East. The section of data sources provides a guide to the use of complex data sets including those provided by DHS-MACRO as well as other public domain surveys (e.g. UNICEF's MICS surveys). Together, these provide a graduate-level introduction to the concepts and application of standard as well as newer methods of demographic analysis, especially in populations where the data are incomplete or inaccurate. The emphasis throughout is on understanding the key relationships, models and assumptions used primarily for the analysis of levels, trends and differentials in fertility, mortality and migration in developing countries. Practical training will be provided through sessions in the MicroLab. There are class exercises which will be completed as short homework assignments. There will be a final paper that brings together the analyses completed throughout the course. Full details of the homework assignments, MicroLab exercises and final paper will be provided in separate notes distributed in class.
Prerequisites:
GHP 272 Foundations of global population and health (Bloom)
GHP 220 Introduction to demographic methods (Castro)
Course Note: Computer use of at least one software package such as SAS/STATA/SPSS. Facility with EXCEL spread sheets and graph production assumed.

GOVT E-1182 Muslims in Europe: Between Integration and Radicalization
Jocelyne Cesari
Fall term, Wednesdays beginning Sept. 2, 5:30-7:30 pm. Optional sections to be arranged.
Muslims are the largest religious minority in Western Europe. From the Madrid and London bombings to the cartoons crisis, doubts have arisen regarding the ability of these newcomers to integrate into European societies. This course analyzes the religious, cultural, and political situation of Muslims in Europe and discusses their accommodation to secular Western cultures. It relies on primary documents from Muslim religious authorities and intellectuals, such as fatwas, along with novels, surveys, and scholarly research on Muslims in different European countries. (4 credits)

GOVT E-1960 Introduction to the Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Territories
Paul Beran
Fall Term, Mondays beginning Aug. 31, 5:30-7:30 pm.
The course focuses on introducing the conflict in Israel and the occupied territories through an interactive peace process simulation. We begin with a historical perspective quickly followed by an analysis of the conflict based on a political frame of reference. This means that we look carefully at the issues of power and authority and the ways that their changing understanding influences the course of the conflict. In the course we trace a curious circle from the original clash between Zionism and Arab-Palestinian nationalism to an inter-state rivalry between Israel and its immediate Arab neighbors and finally return to a more localized struggle between Israel and the Palestinians. Students are encouraged to come to multiple understandings of the conflict and to apply their learning by assuming the role of a contemporary actor or organization in the conflict. (4 credits)

GOVT E-1961 Comparative National Security Strategies of Middle Eastern Countries
Charles Freilich
Spring term, Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26, 5:30-7:30 pm.
The course surveys the national security threats and opportunities facing the countries of the Middle East, including domestic sources thereof, relations with regional and international players, military doctrine, and foreign policy. The course is real world; students play the role of leaders of various countries and write practical policy recommendations. (4 credits)

GOVT E-1962 Jihad: From Classical Islam to Bin Laden
Jocelyne Cesari
Spring term, Wednesdays beginning Jan. 27, 5:30-7:30 pm. Optional sections to be arranged.
Since 9/11, no Islamic concept has raised more debates and questions than jihad, a term that is now in common use in western languages. Paradoxically, jihad is widely misunderstood, often equated with arbitrary violence, holy war, or with Al-Qaeda's fight against the West. The purpose of this course is to describe and analyze the different meanings and theories of jihad in the Islamic tradition. We discuss the differences between holy war, just war, and jihad. We trace jihad from its origins in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and trace its evolution. The course reviews the use of jihad in Muslim empires and contemporary state systems, and analyzes the modern concept of jihad in movements like Hamas and Hezbollah. The course also considers major thinkers and theologians who have influenced the modern use of jihad, from Ibn Taymiyah to Mawdudi and Said Qutb. We review the current use of jihad by move ments like Al-Qaeda and discuss how and why its current use by radical Islamists and suicide bombers is a clear break from its definition in the classical tradition of Islam. (4 credits)

HSCI E-103 Science in the Islamic Middle Ages
Elaheh Kheirandish
Fall term, Thursdays beginning Sept. 3, 5:30-7:30 pm.
This is an introductory course on the development of ancient science and philosophy in the Arabic- and Persian-speaking lands of the Islamic Middle Ages, and the transmission and transformation of major mathematical, natural, philosophical, and medical traditions in historical context, as constructed through a spectrum of related literature in English translation. The course includes selective primary and secondary sources and creative features and events, including physical and virtual manuscript exhibits. (4 credits)

RELI E-1550 Understanding Islam and Contemporary Muslim Societies
Ali S. Asani
Spring term, Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26, 7:35-9:35 pm. (Online option available)
This course is an introductory survey of the fundamental concepts of Islam and the devotional practices of Muslims around the world, focusing on the diversity of Muslim religious worldviews and the manner in which they have been shaped by the political, social, and cultural contexts in which Muslims live, particularly in the modern period. (4 credits)