March 23, 2019, 9:00am-3:00pm, CCAS Boardroom, ICC #141 at Georgetown University
The topic of political and social engagement of Islam in post-colonial societies was always difficult to teach in Modern World History and other courses such as Comparative Government. The terminology used to discuss it has ranged from Islamic fundamentalism to the more neutral “Islamism,” referring to Islam as a political ideology, and questions about labels highlight the fact that the discourse is shaped both in the West and among Muslims. Confusion about the extent to which these movements that advocate for an Islamic state or governance based on principles of shari’ah represent a traditionalist stance or are rather a thoroughly modern phenomenon is one of the issues that must be considered in teaching about the subject. The topic has been further clouded by the appearance of non-state actors such as Al-Qaedah and ISIS, or Daesh in recent decades, which have been driven by popular media and US policy to over-emphasize the association of Islamist movements and violence, and obscure the fact that such movements are not monolithic, and play various roles in Muslim societies.
In response to educators’ requests for more information and classroom resources to meet the academic standards, CCAS has produced a teaching unit based on primary sources to analyze reflecting the history of the movement and its changing role in colonized and post-colonial independent societies. This workshop will feature expert speakers on Islamic movements, and a panel of educators will introduce the curriculum unit, which participants will receive along with many other resources.
Lunch will be served. Register here.
This event is sponsored by the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University, and the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University. It is made possible by a Title VI grant from the US Department of Education, which is funding a National Resource Center on the Middle East and North Africa at Georgetown University, and additional gifts.