SOC 282.01 Syllabus

SELECTED TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY: Religion, Politics and Culture in Contemporary Muslim Societies John Jay College Study Abroad Program in Istanbul SUMMER 2016 Professor: Mucahit Bilici Office: Room 3234 (North Hall) at JJC. Office hours: [Wed, 1:40-2:40pm] or by appt. Email: [email protected] or [email protected] John Jay College, CUNY 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019 Class time: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs 9-11am. Room: TBD ABOUT THE COURSE The course is designed to introduce students to some core concepts for a sociological study of Muslim societies where tradition and modernity, western influence and indigenous cultures merge, collide and are remade. The growing importance of religion, the role of Islam in Turkish society and in the broader Middle East, and questions of citizenship, democracy, and multiculturalism will be discussed. This class has a specific focus: it deals with the contemporary relevance of Islam and Muslim societies. Not only the fear of Islam and Muslims in Western societies, but also the need for understanding others and our own culture necessitates that more attention be paid to Islam. In the age of globalization and terrorism, democratic governments and publics become increasingly vulnerable to a culture of insecurity where fear of the unknown may lead to discrimination, intolerance and the sacrifice of human and civil rights. This course will offer fresh perspectives on Islam and Muslim societies. It will provide critical skills necessary for understanding various debates we have today in the United States and across the globe about religion, politics, violence, the multicultural condition and the challenge of coexistence. Students will combine theoretical debates with current developments in the region and the world in their coursework.



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PREREQUISITE ENG 102 or ENG 201 and SOC 101 (or the permission of the instructor) REQUIRED TEXTS The textbooks are required for this class. Most of the readings will be posted on Blackboard as PDF file. One of the books (Bowering) should be purchased. Anything not listed here will be posted on Blackboard. Michele Dillon (ed), “Part 1: Religion as a Field of Sociological Knowledge” pp.3-75 in Michele Dillon, Handbook of Sociology of Religion. Cambridge University Press, 2003. (PDF available) John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. Oxford University Press, 2002. Pp.1-70. (PDF available) Gerhard Bowering (ed), Islamic Political Thought: An Introduction. Princeton University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-691-16482-3. (Book to be purchased) Tomaz Mastnak, “Western Hostility toward Muslims: A History of the Present,” pp.29-52 in Andrew Shryock (ed), Islamophobia/Islamophilia: Beyond the Politics of Enemy and Friend. Indiana University Press, 2010. (PDF available) Joan Scott, Politics of the Veil. Princeton University Press, 2007. Pp.1-41. “Introduction” chapter. (PDF available) Also note that all our course communication will take place via Blackboard. It is your responsibility to make sure that you can access your emails.

ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, ETHICS Students are expected to stand by the code of academic conduct followed by John Jay College. All exams and papers have to be the student’s own work. As a general policy, plagiarism in term papers or cheating in the exams will result in a failing grade. Attendance is required in this class and you are expected to actively participate in the discussion. Do your readings before class. Make sure that you have at least one question for each reading. You are welcome to disagree, but do so sociologically. Even when the subject matter might seem complicated, you are encouraged to hold and express your own understanding. Make the ideas and approaches we read your own: try to connect them to your personal observations and experiences. Original work and sincere thinking are always appreciated. We will collectively create and sustain a respectful and vibrant intellectual environment in the classroom.



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Statement of the college policy on plagiarism Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one‘s own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. It is the student‘s responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation. (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Undergraduate Bulletin, http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/academics/654.php , see Chapter

IV Academic Standards)

Students with disabilities Students with disabilities should bring their documents early on in the semester and their needs will be accommodated. “Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable academic accommodations if determined eligible by the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS). Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student’s eligibility from the OAS which is located at L66 in the new building (212-237-8031). It is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact with the office and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.” Source: Reasonable Accommodations: A Faculty Guide to Teaching College Students with Disabilities, 4th ed., City University of New York, p.3. (http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/studentlife/Reasonable_Accommodations.pdf)

Learning outcomes By the end of the course, students will be expected to a. learn basic terms of sociology of religion with a specific focus on Islam. b. be exposed to the key concepts of Islamic tradition in a locale where Islam is the mainstream culture. They will be able to compare, contrast and analyze the theory (Islam) and practice (contemporary Muslim society). c. produce a certain amount of critical writing that creatively combines the course readings and field observations.



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d. gain an intense experience of multicultural literacy in an age where knowledge about Muslim culture is no longer a luxury but a necessity anywhere in the world. e. show an understanding of major social processes that have shaped the contemporary climate of religious conflict and cultural misunderstanding. Students are expected to develop an intimate familiarity with the critiques of western orientalism and cultural biases, as well as with the problems of Muslim societies. f. produce several essays where they will relate the ideas and concepts presented in this course to their own lived experience and observations in the local environment where they will engage in various field trips and cultural immersions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS Requirements include one exam and four essays. The essay topics and further details will be announced later. After each field trip, a pair of students will be asked to prepare a brief presentation as part of their participation. There will be no extra credit work in this class. Attendance and Participation: 10 % Midterm Exam: 30 % Four Essays: 60 % (15 % each) Total: 100 % GRADING The following grading criteria will be used in this course. Exam Points Letter Grade 94-100 A 90-93 A87-89 B+ 84-86 B 80-83 B77-79 C+ 74-76 C 70-73 C67-69 D+ 64-66 D 60-63 D59 and below F

COURSE SCHEDULE (draft)

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WEEK ONE: Introductions Turkish Society Sociology of Religion Contemporary Islam Field Trips: TBD Guest speaker WEEK TWO: Islam between Muslim radicalism and Islamophobia History and Basics of Islam Qur’an, Muhammad, Sharia Jihad, Caliphate and Authority Women and Hijab Fundamentalism, Revival and Reform Field Trips: TBD Guest speakers WEEK THREE: Contemporary Muslim Society Islam and Democracy Religion and Pluralism Ethnicity, Nationalism and Religion Managing diversity within Muslim societies Field Trips: TBD Guest speakers WEEK FOUR: Religion and Global Peace Euro‐American societies and Islam Profiles of Islam in Turkey Intercultural challenges: Wars, Refugee crises, changing meanings of citizenship Field Trips: TBD Guest speakers



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