Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World from Coursera

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

Overview: Presenting the Course

This week, we try to give you an overview of the themes and principles that we will focus on during the course. We look at the current state of the countries in the region and present the role of religion, the challenge of modernity and the different responses to modernity, which we will revisit thematically during the next weeks. It is highly recommend to read my article "Contested Universalities of International Law. Islam’s Struggle with Modernity" in this week's readings to gain a better understanding of the argument put forward throughout the course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Concepts are illustrated with live examples from across the Muslim world, such as Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran

Weekly action plan helps in managing time, following up and supporting students along the course

Taught by two PhDs, including Dr. Ebrahim Afshar who is multilingual, a Professor and an Author

Focuses on political positions, secularists, constitutional ideas, legal, and administrative developments

Provides an overview of legal developments across 20th and 21st centuries

Reviews summary

Constitutional development in muslim world

According to students, this course offers a highly informative and engaging survey of constitutional and political developments across the Muslim world since the 19th century. Learners particularly praised the instructor's expertise and balanced perspective, finding the lectures insightful and well-structured. Many appreciated the broad geographical coverage, although some felt certain regions were covered with less depth. The course is considered challenging but rewarding, suitable for those with some prior knowledge or a strong interest in the topic. While the readings are extensive, reviewers generally found them valuable.

More suitable for learners with some background.

"Helpful if you have some prior background in the history or politics of the region."

"A beginner might find this challenging without supplementary reading."

"Assumes a certain level of familiarity with key historical events."

"Definitely for intermediate learners or motivated beginners ready to put in work."

Required readings are extensive and sometimes dense.

"The required readings are substantial and need significant time commitment."

"Some weeks had a lot of reading material to get through."

"While valuable, the readings could be quite challenging and dense at times."

"Be prepared for a heavy reading load on top of the lectures."

Lecture content is engaging and thought-provoking.

"The lectures were consistently engaging and easy to follow."

"His lectures are dense with information but very well-explained."

"I found the way the lecturer connected history to contemporary issues very insightful."

"Each week's lecture built nicely on the previous material."

Provides a broad survey of diverse regions and topics.

"Excellent overview of a complex subject, covering diverse regions."

"I learned so much about the legal and political systems in different Muslim countries."

"The course structure provides a comprehensive look at historical developments."

"It gives you a really good starting point for understanding the different contexts."

Instructor provides deep insights and balanced views.

"Professor is very knowledgeable and balanced in his analysis."

"The professor is excellent, presenting complex topics clearly and with nuance."

"His expertise shines through and makes the lectures highly insightful."

"I really appreciated the balanced perspective the instructor brought to sensitive topics."

Coverage depth varies across different regions.

"Some regions felt covered in less detail than others, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa."

"I wished there had been more depth on Pakistan and Bangladesh."

"While the overview is great, some areas felt a bit rushed."

"Could benefit from slightly more dedicated time to certain geographical areas."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World with these activities:

Find a mentor who can provide guidance and support on the course material

Show steps

Having a mentor can help you to stay on track and achieve your goals.

Show steps

Identify a potential mentor who has experience in the course material.
Contact the mentor and ask if they are willing to mentor you.
Meet with your mentor regularly to discuss your progress and get feedback.

Review your notes from previous courses on related topics

Show steps

Refreshing your knowledge of related topics will help you to better understand the course material.

Show steps

Gather your notes from previous courses on related topics.
Review the notes and identify any areas that you need to brush up on.

Watch video tutorials on the course material

Show steps

Watching video tutorials can help you to better understand the concepts.

Show steps

Find a set of video tutorials on the course material.
Watch the tutorials and take notes.
Review the tutorials later.

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams

Show steps

Organizing your materials will help you to stay on top of the course material.

Show steps

Gather all of your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Organize the materials into a system that makes sense to you.

Practice your writing skills by writing a summary of a course lecture

Show steps

Writing a summary of a course lecture will help you to improve your writing skills and your understanding of the material.

Browse courses on Writing Skills

Show steps

Attend a course lecture.
Take notes on the lecture.
Write a summary of the lecture.

Practice answering multiple choice questions on the course material

Show steps

Practicing answering multiple choice questions will help you to become more familiar with the material and improve your test-taking skills.

Show steps

Find a set of multiple choice questions on the course material.
Answer the questions and check your answers.
Review the questions that you answered incorrectly.

Review: 'Hierarchy in International Relations'

Show steps

This text will provide additional depth to a variety of topics that we will discuss throughout the course.

Show steps

Read each chapter of the book.
Take notes on the key ideas.
Be prepared to discuss the book in class.

Form a study group with classmates to discuss the course material

Show steps

Discussing the material with your peers will help you to better understand the concepts.

Show steps

Find a group of classmates who are interested in forming a study group.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.

Write a blog post about a current event related to the course

Show steps

Writing a blog post requires you to summarize a news article, reflect on the content, and express your own opinions. This type of critical thinking is essential to the course.

Browse courses on Current Events

Show steps

Choose a current event that is relevant to the course material.
Research the event from multiple sources.
Write a blog post that summarizes the event, analyzes its significance, and provides your own insights.

Career center

Learners who complete Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Academic Researcher

Academic Researchers conduct original research and publish their findings in scholarly journals. This course may be useful for Academic Researchers who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Academic Researcher

Historian

Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past. Those who specialize in the Middle East may find this course particularly helpful to their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. This course may be useful for Professors who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professor

Journalist

Journalists gather, analyze, and report on news and current events. Those who cover international affairs or the Middle East may find this course particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private matters. A lawyer who specializes in international law or human rights law may find this course particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including journalism, fiction, and marketing. This course may be useful for Writers who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Human Rights Advocate

Human Rights Advocates promote and protect human rights around the world. This course may be useful for Human Rights Advocates who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Rights Advocate

Consultant

Consultants provide expert advice to businesses and organizations. This course may be useful for Consultants who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Diplomat

Diplomats represent their countries abroad and negotiate with foreign governments. This course may be useful for diplomats who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diplomat

Public Policy Analyst

Public Policy Analysts research, analyze, and make recommendations on public policy issues. This course may be useful for Public Policy Analysts who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers represent the United States abroad and work to promote American interests. This course may be useful for Foreign Service Officers who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Service Officer

Intelligence Analyst

Intelligence Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret information to provide insights on national security issues. This course may be useful for Intelligence Analysts who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Intelligence Analyst

Political Scientist

Political Scientists study political systems, political behavior, and public policy. This course may be useful for Political Scientists who want to specialize in the Middle East or Islamic law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit Program Managers plan, implement, and evaluate programs to achieve an organization's goals. This course may be useful for Nonprofit Program Managers who want to work in the Middle East or on issues related to Islam.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Program Manager

International Development Specialist

International Development Specialists work to improve the lives of people in developing countries. This course may be useful for International Development Specialists who want to work in the Middle East or on issues related to Islam.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Development Specialist