ISLA 682 AND POLITICS IN AFRICA Fall 2012 Khalid Mustafa Medani Mondays, 6:05– 7:55 pm MOR 328

Associate Professor: Khalid M. Medani Department of Political Science, McGill University Email: [email protected] Office Hours: TBA

Seminar Description

This is an advanced seminar on Islam and Politics in Africa. The discussion begins by critically examining current debates used to study the relationship between globalization, and politics in Africa and beyond. We will then discuss the history and different analytical approaches used to study Islamic politics in Africa with particular references to the cases of Sudan, and . In doing so, we will consider the merits and deficiencies of the cultural, moral economy, political economy and social movement approaches utilized to understand . The second section examines the trajectory of Islamist movements with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on west Africa. What is the difference between Islamist movements in northern Africa versus their counterparts south of the Sahara? Finally, the seminar focuses on the causes (i.e. economic globalization, and geo-political rivalries) and consequences (i.e. the war on terrorism) of the 9/11 attacks for Islamic countries in Africa. We will conclude with presentations of the students’ research paper drafts.

Course Requirements

Participation in Discussion: Students will be expected to keep up with assigned readings and to come to the seminar prepared to participate in discussion. Students are expected to lead and participant in discussion based on several assignments designed to encourage a deeper understanding of the relationship between Islam and Politics in Africa. These assignments must be made available on WebCT prior to the class meeting time. Students will be expected to keep up with assigned readings and to come to class prepared to participate in discussion.

Reading Response Paper: Each student is required to write reading response papers of the assigned readings and present these at the seminar. The papers should be between 2-3 double spaced pages. Do NOT summarize each week’s readings, but rather focus on answering the following questions: 1. What is the author trying to convey to his/her audience? 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument or point of view he/she is presenting? 3. What is confusing or unsatisfying about the reading? 4. Are there any themes that emerge from the week’s readings? 5. How do the arguments compare and contrast with the view of other authors you have read in the course or elsewhere? 6. Pose three discussion questions for the class to consider.

Research Project: A major objective of this course is to have students improve their research, analytical, writing and creative skills through the development of an original research paper related Islam and Politics in the African context. The research question or questions must be narrow, but based on offering a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of the politicization of Islam.

Note: Each student must individually schedule a meeting with me to discuss a research project before embarking on the research and writing the paper. The final draft of the research project should be 20 to 25 double spaced pages and no longer. The research project is composed of 2 phases. Students will hand in an initial draft of the paper or project no later than the 10th week of class, and give an oral presentation of their findings to the class in groups of twos at the end of term.. The final version of the project is due December 1st. It must incorporate the relevant comments of an assigned partner assigned to critique your project.

Final grades will be calculated as follows: participation and discussion (35%), reading response papers (25%), research paper (40%).

Class Policies

Policy on Research Project: Late projects will be penalized at the rate of 1/3 grade per day (e.g. an A- will be downgraded to a B+). All papers should be titled. Papers must be typed, double spaced with one-inch margins, twelve point font, with approximately 250 words per page. Extensions will be granted only in cases of genuine emergency.

Office Hours: Students are strongly encouraged to come to office hours with or without specific questions. I am available at regular office hours as well as by appointment. Kindly schedule an appointment to discuss research paper proposals as soon as possible.

Final Grades: Students are required to complete all assigned course work in order to receive a passing grade. No incompletes will be given except in cases of genuine emergency.

McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).

About the Schedule: Although it is my intent to cover the material outlined in the following schedule, it is possible that unforeseeable events will necessitate minor changes to, or deletions from, the schedule. However, I will not change due dates or the dates of the research project.

Readings

Selections from the following text will be required readings. They are available on reserve at the Islamic Studies Institute Library.

Available from Paragraph Bookstore:

2 *Quinton Wictorowicz, Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Approach. Indiana University Press, 2004.

On Reserve at the Islamic Studies Library in Morris Hall:

*Alex de Waal, editor. Islamism and its Enemies in the Horn of Africa, London, Hurst, 2004.

*Louse Brenner, ed. (2003) Muslim Identity and Social Change in sub-Saharan Africa. London: Hurst & Company.

*Nehemia Levtzion and Randall L. Pouwels, ed. The History of . Ohio University Press, 2000 (on Reserve in the Islamic Studies Library)

(WebCT) indicate a reading (i.e. article) posted on WebCT from the Libraries electronic database. (online) indicates a reading available online mostly through JSTOR or another site such as www.merip.org

Outline of Course Schedule and Readings

Week 1: Introduction

No readings, discussion of course content and guidelines.

Week 2: Theoretical Approaches in the Study of Islam (and Religion) in Politics

*Quinton Wictorowicz, Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Approach. Indiana University Press, 2004, Introduction and chapters 1, 2, 5 and conclusion (available at Paragraph Bookstore and on reserve)

*Richard Trawnmiller and Markus Freitas, “State Support of Religion: Making or Breaking Faith-Based Social Capital,” Comparative Politics, vol 43, no. 3, April 2011 (jstor.org/webct).

Week 3: Theorizing Islam and Identity Politics in Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa

*Alfred Stepan, “Ritual Respect: Sufis and Secularisms in Senegal in Comparative Perspective,” Comparative Politics, vol. 44, no. 4, July 2012 (jstor.org/webct)

*Michael D. Dreisen, “Public Religion, Democracy and Islam: Examining the Moderation Thesis in Algeria,” Comparative Politics, vol. 44, no. 2, January 2012 (Jstor.org/webct).

*James D. Fearon and David D. Laitin. (2000). Violence and the Social Construction of Ethnic Identity. International Organization. 54(4), 845-877.

3 *Ellis, S. and G. ter Haar (1998). "Religion and politics in Sub-Saharan Africa." The Journal of Modern African Studies 36(2): 175-201 (www.jstor.org and webct)

*Ranger, T. O. (1985). "Religious Movements and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa."African Studies Review 29(2): 1-69 (www.jstor.org and webct)

For further historical background on Islam in Africa:

*Nehemia Levtzion and Randall I. Powell, Introduction: Patterns of and varieties of Religious Experience among in Africa. Introduction, in the in Africa (on reserve).

Week 4: Globalization and the Politics of Islam: the case of Egypt

*Saba Mahmood, The Politics of Peity: Islamic Revivalism and the Feminine Subject. Princeton University Press, chapters 1 and 2 (WebCT).

*Saeed Eddin Ibrahim, “Anatomy of Egypt’s Militant Islamic Groups,” International Journal of Middle East Studies, 12, (1980) (WebCT)

*Asef Bayat, “Activism and Social Development in the Middle East,” International Journal of Middle East Studies, vol. 34, 2002, pp. 1-28. (www.jstor.org)

*Mona El-Ghobashy, “The Metamorphosis of the Egyptian Muslim Brothers,” International Journal of Middle East Studies,” 37:3 (August 2005), 371 -395 (www.jstor.org)

*Quinton Wictorowicz, Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Approach. Indiana University Press, 2004, Chapter 5.

*Salwa Ismail. The Popular Movement Dimensions of Contemporary Militant Islam: Socio- Spacial Determinants in an Urban Setting in , Studies in Contemporary History and Society (www.jstor.org/WebCT).

Week 5: State Collapse and Islamist Militant Politics: Somalia

Englebert, Pierre, and Denis M. Tull. 2008. “Post-conflict Reconstruction in Africa: Flawed Ideas about Failed States.” International Security 32(4): 106-139.

L. Ianaconne and E. Berman, “Religious Extremism: the Good, the Bad and the Deadly,” Public Choice (2009), WebCT.

Roland Marchand, “A Tentative Assessment of Haraakat al-Shabbab,” Journal of North East African Studies (2010) WebCT.

Magnus Noll, “Islamist Networks in Somalia,” FOI Somalia (November 2008) WebCT.

S. Healy, “ and Somalia: Terrorism, Shadow Networks and the Limitations of State Building, Chattam House (October 2010) WebCT.

4 Menkhaus, K. (2002). "Political ." Middle East Policy 9(1): 109-23 (www.jstor.og)

*Additional Reading on the Islamic Courts to be assigned and placed on WebCT.

Week 6: The Politics of an Islamist Republic? The case of Sudan

*Alex De Waal, Islamism and its Enemies in the Horn of Africa (Sudan chapters to be placed on WebCT).

Week 7: Islam, Oil and Ethnic Conflict: Sudan

Khalid Mustafa Medani, “Strife and Secession in Sudan,” Journal of Democracy (July 2011).

Patey, Luke Anthony. " State rules: oil companies and armed conflict in Sudan." Third World Quarterly 28, no. 5 (2007): 991-1016.

Branch, Adam, and Zachariah Cherian Mampilly. "Winning the War, but Losing the Peace? The Dilemma of SPLM/A Civil Administration and the Tasks Ahead." The Journal of Modern African Studies 43, no. 1 (Mar 2005): 1-20.

Johnson, Douglas H. "Why Abyei Matters: The Breaking Point of Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement?" African Affairs 107, no. 426 (Jan 2008): 1-19.

Week 8: Muslim Politics in sub-Saharan Africa (Part I)

*Louse Brenner, ed. (2003) Muslim Identity and Social Change in sub-Saharan Africa. London: Hurst & Company (On Reserve)

Week 9: Islam and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa (Part II)

*J. Reynolds. Good and Bad Muslims: Islam and Indirect Rule in Nigeria (www.jstor.org).

*John Hunwick. An African Case Study of Political Islam: Nigeria (www.jstor.org). *Linda Beck, 2001. Reigning in the Marabouts? Democratization and Local Governance in Senegal. African Affairs 100: 601-621(www.jstor.org)

*Lansine Kaba, Islam in West Africa: Radicalism and the New Ethic of Disagreement, 1960- 1990, Chapter 9, in the History of Islam in Africa.

*William F.S. Miles. Religious Pluralisms in Northern Nigeria, Chapter 10, in the History of Islam in Africa

*Michael C. Lambert, 1988. Violence and the War of Words: Ethnicity and Nationalism in the Casamance.” Africa 68(4): 585-601.

Week 10: Islam and Politics in Eastern and Western Africa in Comparative Perspective

5 Benjamin F. Soares (2006). “Islam in in the Neoliberal Era,” African Affairs.vol. 105, no. 418 (jstor.org).

Villalon, L. A. (1999). "Generational Changes, Political Stagnation, and the Evolving Dynamics of Religion and Politics in Senegal." Africa Today 46(3/4): 129-147 (www.jstor.org)

*David Robinson. “France as a Muslim Power in West Africa”, Africa Today, no. 46. no.3. Summer/Aut 1999. pp. 105-127(www.jstor.org)

*Ivor Wilkes. The Juula and the Expansion of Islam into the Forest, Chapter 4 in the History of Islam in Africa.

Recommended:

*Jay Spaulding, Precolonial Islam in Eastern Sudan, Chapter 5 in the History of Islam in Africa.

*David Robinson, Revolution in Western Sudan. Chapter 6 in the History of Islam in Africa. Jean-Louis Triand, Islam in Africa under French Colonial Rule, Chapter 8 in the History of Islam in Africa.

Note: Remember to schedule an appointment with me to discuss papers this week

Note: First draft of research papers due in my box by 5pm on that Friday.

Week 11: Globalization and political Islam in the post 9/11 Era

*Sandra Barnes, “Global Flows: Terror, Oil and Strategic Philanthropy,” African Studies Review, vol, 48, no. 1, April 2005, pp. 1-23. (online)

*A. Krueger, et. al. Education, Poverty and Terrorism: Is there a Connection? (WEBCT).

*Additional Readings to be assigned based on student research drafts.

Week 12: Term Paper Draft Presentation (Session I)

Week 13: Term Paper Draft Presentation (Session II)

*Final Papers Due on December 10TH.

RESOURCES ON AFRICA It is important that you follow contemporary politics in Africa on a regular basis beyond the conventional media accounts. You will find the following sources extremely helpful for your research paper and country profile paper.

News and information sources available online include the following: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/default.stm http://allafrica.com (contains French language page) http://www.africanews.org

6 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/world/africa/ http://www.afrika.no/ http://www.africapoliticsonline.com/ http://www.islamonline.com http://www.ikhwanweb.com

You can also follow the news on some radio stations on African topics. http://allafrica.com/partners/bbc/ http://allafrica.com/partners/bbc/focus_on_africa.ram

For topics on African Development issues, see the following: http://www.worldbank.org/afr http://www.africa.upenn.edu/About_African/ww_dev.html http://www.h-net.org/~africa/sources/

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