• Offered by Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies
  • ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Course subject Middle Eastern & Central Asian Studies
  • Areas of interest Arab and Islamic Studies, Security Studies, Middle East Studies, Central Asia Studies

This course examines the changing relations between the 'domain of Islam' and 'the West', more specifically the United States, against the backdrop of the events of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath. It does so in both historical and contemporary terms. Its inquiry focuses more specifically on three main issues: the nature of Islam and its relations with the West in history, the rise of the United States to globalism since World War II and its role in the Muslim domain, and the problems with US and Muslim approaches in dealing with the phenomenon of international terrorism.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
  1. Course participants will learn about the religion of Islam, the relations between the Muslim World and the West, as well as the rise of international terrorism against the backdrop of the fluctuating relations between Islam and the West in both historical and contemporary terms.
  2. Students will develop an ability to analyse and judge for themselves whether there is a relationship between Islam and terrorism at the doctrinal level, and to what extent the whole phenomenon of terrorism is embedded in politics rather than religion
  3. Students will gain knowledge about the key concepts which have often been used but frequently misunderstood; such as Islam, Islamic, Islamist, terrorism, and resistance.

Indicative Assessment

One 4,000 word essay (60%) and a three-hour exam in the exam period (40%)

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

130 hours per semester made up from:
Reading, reflection and preparation for seminars -- 4 hours per week over 12 weeks (48 hours)
Attendance at seminars (advisable and expected but not compulsory) for 2 hours per week over 12 weeks (24 hours)
Guided research and writing of the major essay (40 hours)
Preparation for and attendance at the final examination (18 hours)

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must be studying a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or a Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies (Honours), or completion of 144 units towards the Bachelor of Philosophy (Arts). You are not able to enrol in this course if you have previously completed MEAS8111

Preliminary Reading

Gerges, F.A. The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Saikal, A. Islam and the West: Conflict or Coperation?, London, Palgrave MacMillan, 2003.
Lewis, B. The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror, London: Weidenfeld & Nicholason, 2003.
Chomsky, N. &  Achcar, G. Perilous Power: The Middle East and US Foreign Policy, London: Hamish Hamilton, 2007.

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
1
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2018 $2820
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2018 $4320
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

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The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

First Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
4873 25 Feb 2019 04 Mar 2019 31 Mar 2019 31 May 2019 In Person N/A

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