MVZn5015 Religion and Politics in the Middle East

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. JUDr. PhDr. Marek Čejka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 16:00–17:40 M117
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MVZ415 Religion in the Middle East && !NOW( MVZ415 Religion in the Middle East )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 35 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 23/35, only registered: 0/35
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course offers students a comprehensive overview of the main issues connected to relations between religion and politics in contemporary Middle East (especially Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan) and North Africa (Maghreb countries). At the end of the course, students should be able to understand the basics of the relationship between religion and politics; to distinguish Islamic and secular nationalism in Palestine; to formulate specifics of the relationship between religion and politics in selected countries of the Middle East; to assess the Islamic challenge in Maghreb and to improve their discussion skills within this topic.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to understand the basics of the relationship between religion and politics; to distinguish Islamic and secular nationalism in Palestine; to formulate specifics of the relationship between religion and politics in selected countries of the Middle East; to assess the Islamic challenge in Maghreb and to improve their discussion skills within this topic.
Syllabus
  • 1. Religion and democracy. Democracy and theocracy. State and religion in Israel;
  • 2. Judaism and Zionism. Orthodox religious parties in Israel;
  • 3. Religious Zionism. National-religious fundamentalism in Israel;
  • 4. Islamism vs. secular nationalism in Palestine;
  • 5. Religion and politics in the Lebanon;
  • 6. Afghanistan – Mujaheddin and the Taliban movement;
  • 7. Written intrasemestral test;
  • 8. Religion and politics in Jordan and Saudi Arabia;
  • 9. Islamic challenge in Maghreb? Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania;
  • 10. Documentary film presentation, debate;
  • 11. Final exam test, essay.
Literature
  • INTROVIGNE, Massimo. Hamás : islámský terorismus ve Svaté zemi. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2003, 108 s. ISBN 807021659X. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Západ a islamismus :střet civilizací, nebo dialog kultur? 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2001, 188 s. ISBN 80-85959-96-8. info
  • AVINERI, Šlomo. Zrození moderního sionismu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sefer, 2001, 250 s. ISBN 80-85924-28-5. info
  • KROPÁČEK, Luboš. Blízký východ na přelomu tisíciletí : dynamika přeměn v muslimském sousedství Evropy. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1999, 284 s. ISBN 8070212985. info
  • NEWMAN, Ja'akov and Gavri'el SIVAN. Judaismus od A do Z :slovník pojmů a termínů. Translated by Dušan Zbavitel - Gita Zbavitelová. Praha: Sefer, 1998, 285 s. ISBN 80-900895-3-4. info
Teaching methods
The course is taught as a combination of seminars and debates. The emphasis is put on active participation. Teaching methods also include presentation of a documentary movie followed by a discussion. Readings serve to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by the written exams. Examination takes place in the middle of the semester (written test) as well as at the end of the semester (written test again). Essay is another part of the assessment. Detailed syllabus (incl. evaluation criteria) is available on IS MU web.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Předmět nezapisují studenti, kteří ho již absolvovali pod kódem MVE433.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/MVZn5015