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.

Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey

This week, we look at Turkey and at the history of the Ottoman Empire, whose legacy continues to influence many countries in the region today. Turkey occupies a special place due to its explicit constitutional and social commitment to secularism and a self-conscious emulation of the Western model. Keep the four models of adaptation in mind while watching the lectures of this week as well as the next ones.

Egypt and Maghreb

This week concerns the region where the so-called "Arab Spring" originated: North Africa. We will focus especially on Egypt due to its historical importance, relative size and the impact its politics have had on other Arab and Muslim countries. Following the Secularism/Emulation model exemplified by Turkey last week, this region represents the second broad approach to modernity, namely Religious Modernism/Reform.

Saudi Arabia & The Gulf

This week we will look at the Gulf Monarchies, especially at Saudi Arabia. The impact of essentially free oil income defines the social and governmental structure of this sub-region, so we will focus on the character of so-called rentier economies and their socio-political impact. These countries represent the third broad approach to modernity, namely Traditionalism, that is the notion that there is no need to change inherited socio-political structures.

Iran & The Shiites

Iran is the one place where the fundamentalist response to the challenge of modernity has had its longest and most thorough chance of carrying out the promise of Islamist governance. One of the main questions of the week regards the extent to which this promise has been fulfilled. In other words, whether Islamist claims to have a functioning and qualitatively better form of government have been sustainable, or whether the practical challenges of government have led to widespread popular disillusionment.

The Levant (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq)

This week, even more than throughout the rest of the course, we are dealing with a very topical issue: The Western military invasion of Iraq led to the destruction of its state institutions and brought about the much predicted collapse of social order in that country. In Syria we are witnessing the disintegration of state institutions, caused by internal revolt rather than external attack, but with similarly disastrous humanitarian outcomes. While Jordan has generally managed to avoid being drawn into its neighbours' internal conflicts, Lebanon's fragile political system has shown much greater exposure to neighbouring events, especially in Syria.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh

Due to the importance of the Afghan conflict for world politics of the last decade or so, this conflict will be the main focus of this week's lectures. It is a truly interesting story, replete with exotic locales, tales of betrayal and great heroism, and more. This focus regretfully entails that the fascinating story of Bangladesh and Pakistan does not get as much attention as it deserves.

Malaysia & Indonesia

This week deals with the very rich historical, ethnic, linguistic and geographic tapestry of the two archipelagic nations of Malaysia and Indonesia. Truly fascinating places and very different from the localities we have so far discussed in the course. We look at both nations before and after their independence and end with a thorough investigation of the challenges they face today. The week's material is sure to be an eye opener to many.

Sub-Saharan Africa

This week, we will look at sub-saharan Africa and the particular challenges faced by Muslim-majority societies there. For obvious reasons, colonialism plays a very large role here and so we will return to many of the same issues already touched upon in earlier classes. But perhaps even more important is the endemic weakness of institutions. For more on those African nations that have successfully broken out of the vicious cycle of weak institutions, endemic poverty, bad governance, and domestic conflict, please see this week's readings.

Conclusion and Outlook

This week, we move beyond the geographical focus as we try to tie up some of the loose ends and highlight some of the recurring issues we have studied during the past weeks together. We look at what the different countries have in common, what separates them and at the different kinds of tensions that we have found across the region. At the end of the week, you should have a good understanding of how issues in different countries relate to to each other and of the challenges that the region as a whole is facing today.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, 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

Highly informative overview of muslim world constitutions

Learners say this engaging course comprehensively explores constitutional struggles in the Muslim world. Its strengths include detailed lectures, knowledgeable instructors, and a well-structured curriculum. Students appreciate the historical insights, cultural perspectives, and emphasis on critical thinking. It has broadened their understanding of the region and its complexities.

The course encourages students to develop critical thinking skills.

"I really enjoyed taking this class, and I highly appreciate the instructor's approach. Mr. Afsah is obviously very well-informed but never failed to urge participants to question and reflect upon what was being heard and read."

"The course was engaging and full of interesting information about different regions where the religion of Islam is present."

"I have sat several courses in the last few months and this, by far, is without a doubt the most comprehensive and eye-opening."

Students highly value the engaging video lectures and readings.

"Very in depth thought provoking material delivered in a logical and compelling manner."

"Very informative lectures with deep research. Thanks to the lecturer and the entire team."

"This course is absolutely interesting, well structured and an amazing learning experience."

Learners appreciate the course's focus on cultural perspectives.

"This course was amazing, I learn a lot about everything related to the Muslim world and will help me a lot with my studies at the Law School!"

"Teacher has taught us various histories of Muslim World most of which I was unaware."

"Very informative course on the history of the Muslim world."

Learners consistently praise the knowledgeable instructor.

"Very Knowledgeable instructor"

"Excellent! An awesome experience."

"Excellent Instructor. Learned much. Should be a required course for ALL personnel in diplomatic career fields."

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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

Six other activities

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Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams

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

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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

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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

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

Practice answering multiple choice questions on the course material

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

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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'

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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