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 http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity/ for more information). L'université McGill attache une haute importance à l’honnêteté académique. Il incombe par conséquent à tous les étudiants de comprendre ce que l'on entend par tricherie, plagiat et autres infractions académiques, ainsi que les conséquences que peuvent avoir de telles actions, selon le Code de conduite de l'étudiant et des procédures disciplinaires (pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez consulter le site www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/) In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded. Introduction to Modern History of the Middle East (ISLA 355)(Winter, 2012) Tuesday & Thursday: 11:35-12:55 Leacock Building, Room 232 Professor: Malek Abisaab Office: Leacock room # 620 Office hrs: Friday 1:30-3:30 (put your name on the sign-up sheet) (514)398-4400 Ext. 09325 Email: via myCourses TA: Fadia Bahgat Office: Morrice Hall, room 313 Office hours: Wed., 1:30-3:30 Email: [email protected] TA: Nathan Spannaus Office: Morrice Hall, room 313 Office Hours: Wed., 1-2 Email: [email protected] Course Description This course assesses the historical transformation of the Middle East in the light of its internal socio-economic changes, the colonial experience and encounters with Western powers since the early 19th century. It also examines the historical conditions and processes that led to Ottoman reforms, rise of nationalism and modern nation-states including the Gulf States, and the first and second Gulf wars. It highlights selected peasant and national revolts and explores the internal dynamics of most Middle Eastern societies. The course also attempts to deconstruct the dominant paradigm of western knowledge of the Middle East and Islam. It aims to teach students how to prepare an analytical term paper with a well-argued thesis on the basis of a primary source. 1 Course Requirements I- Quizzes and Exams: There will be 3 pop-up quizzes: on maps, films, Islamic terms, schools of thought, or special historical events. Students are required to write a Primary Source Analysis (PSA) which is due on March 22, 2012, should be between 10-12 pages, typed-written and double-spaced (electronic versions are not accepted).The Final Exam will cover the material that we studied since the beginning of the semester. The definite date of the final exam will be announced in proper time (April 30 @ 6PM). The final is an essay- type exam and based on both lecture and discussion topics. A week before the exam I will give you a study Guide which aims to help you in drafting your essays. The exam will be composed of 3 questions you have to answer only 2. II- Discussion: Thursday sessions will be dedicated for discussion. Questions from the lectures and new material will form the topics of discussions. The policy on absence is very strict and only in case of a health problem that students, with a medical report, are allowed to miss the class. Attendance includes active participation in class discussion: answering and asking questions and demonstrating your perspective on the assigned reading material. Passive participation will affect the grade. Classrooms for the discussion sessions (conferences) are the following: LEA 116 for the section 10907; EDUC 431, for the section 10908 and EDUC 338 for section 10909. Students are expected to attend class regularly, both lecture and discussion, and to engage in discussion of assigned materials and raise questions on central historical points. Students are also expected to thoroughly read and prepare the assigned materials and to be ready to respond to basic questions on them. A make-up quiz is only given to students who can justify their absence by a medical note. III- It is important to check WebCT regularly especially before coming to class as the lecture’s outline, question for discussion and possible messages will be posted. IV- Laptops in class are only allowed for note taking. Students will be penalized if they use them otherwise. V- Primary Source Analysis (PSA) “Jamal al-Din al-Afghani Answers Ernest Renan’s Criticism of Islam, May 18, 1883,” Akram Fouad Khater, Sources in the History, 29-35. (document will be posted to myCourses). VI- Final Grade: Attendance & Discussion: 25% 3 Quizzes (Best grade of two quizzes):20% Primary Source Analysis: 25% Final Exam: 30% VII- Books to Buy from McGill Bookstore: 1- Soha Bechara, Resistance: My Life for Lebanon (Brooklyn, New York: Soft 2 Skull Press, 2003). 2- Course Pack Material (CPM). Reading Assignments Week 1 Jan. 10th . Introduction to the Course & Lecture: Geography and brief Historical background of the Middle East since the birth of Islam. Jan. 12th . Film: Islam: An Empire of Faith Week 2 Jan. 17th . Lecture: “Reforms and its Impact on the Ottoman Empire,” William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, Ch. 5 (Ebook) Jan. 19th Discussion: Michael Cook, “The Expansion of the First Saudi State: The Case of Washm,” in C. E. Bosworth, The Islamic World: From Classical to Modern Times, Pp.661-699 (CPM-1) and Khalid Dakhil, “The Rise of the Wahhabi Movement,” Khalid al-Dakhil, Ch. V, Pp. 215-254(myCourses) Week 3 Jan. 24th . Lecture: “Reforms in Egypt and Iran,” Cleveland, ch. 6 (Ebook) Jan. 26th . Discussion: Afaf Lutfi al-Sayyid Marsot, Egypt in the Reign of Muhammad Ali, ch. 9 “Expansion to what end?” Pp. 196-231 & Ussama Makdisi, The Culture of Sectarianism, chs.4 & 6 “The Faces of Reform,” and “The Return of the Juhhal,” Pp 51-67 & 96- 118 (CPM-2) Week 4 Jan. 31st . Primary Source Analysis: Instructions Feb. 2nd . Discussion: Albert Hourani, “Jamal al-Din Al-Afghani,” ch. V & “Muhammad `Abduh,” ch. VI in Albert Hourani, Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age, 1798-1939, Pp.103-160. (Ebook) Week 5 Feb. 7th . Lecture: “The Response of the Islamic World,” Cleveland, ch. 7 (Ebook) Feb. 9th Discussion: Abbas Amanat, “Introduction: The Royal Domain,” in 3 Abbas Amanat, Pivot of the Universe: Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar and the Iranian Monarchy, 1831-1896, Pp. 1-24(CPM-3) & James D. Clark, “Constitutionalists and Cossacks: The Constitutional Movement and Russian Intervention in Tabriz, 1907-11,” Iranian Studies, vol. 39, no. 2(June, 2006): 199-225 (myCourses) Week 6 Feb. 14th . Lecture: “The Era of Young Turk and Constitutional Revolution in Iran,” Cleveland, Ch. 8 (Ebook) Feb. 16th . Discussion: Ernest Dawn, ch. one, “The Origin of Arab Nationalism,” Pp. 3-30 and M. Sukru Hanioglu, ch. Two, “The Young Turks and the Arabs Before the Revolution of 1908,” Pp. 31-49, in Rashid Khalidi, Lisa Anderson, Muhammad Muslih and Reeva S. Simon, eds., The Origins of Arab Nationalism, Pp. 3- 30& Rifa`at `Ali Abou-El-Haj, “Theorizing Beyond the Nation- state,” Pp. 73-in Rifa`at Abou-El-Haj, The Formation of the Modern State, (CPM-4). Week 7 Feb. 20-24th Study Break Week 8 Feb. 28th . Lecture: “The Great Arab Revolt; the Birth of the Nation-state in Iran and Turkey,” Cleveland, Chs.9&10 (Ebook) March 1st . Discussion: Ervand Abrahamian, ch.2 “Reform, revolution, and the Great War,” Pp.34-62 in Ervand Abrahamian, A History of Modern Iran, & Marion Farouk-Sluglett & Peter Sluglett, ch., 1 “Iraq Before the Revolution of 1958,” Pp. 1-46 and Ch. 2, “1958- 1963,” Pp. 47-84 in Marion Farouk-Sluglett & Peter Sluglett, Iraq Since 1958: From Revolution to Dictatorship, (CPM-5). Week 9 March 6th .Lecture: “The British Mandate and the Arab Struggle for Independence,” Cleveland, ch. 11 & “the French Mandate and the Arab Struggle for Independence,” Cleveland, Ch. 12 (Ebook) March 8th . Discussion: Michael Provence, “Druze Shaykhs, Arab Nationalists and Grain Merchants,” (myCourses); “An Investigation into the Local Origins of the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925,” Pp. 138-153 in Nadine Meouchy, ed., France, Syrie et Liban: Les ambiguïtés et les dynamiques de la relation mandataire (Beirut: IFEAD, 2000) 4 (CPM-6); Malek Abisaab, “Sh`ite Peasants and a New Nation in Colonial Lebanon: The Intifada (Uprising) of Bint Jubayl, 1936.” (myCourses). Week 10 March 13th . Lecture: “The British Mandate and the Question of Palestine,” Cleveland, ch. 13 (Ebook) March 15th . Discussion: Ervand Abrahamian, Iran between two Revolutions, chs. 5&9, Pp. 225-280; 419-449 (Ebook) Week 11 March 20th . Lecture: “Democracy and Authoritarianism & the Rise of Nasser in Egypt,” Cleveland, chs. 14&15 (Ebook) March 22nd . Film: Forget Baghdad (Samir Jamal al-Din, director) The Primary Source Analysis is Due Week 12 March 27th . Lecture: “The Middle East in the Age of Nasser: The Radicalization of the Arab Politics,” Cleveland, chs. 16&17 (Ebook) March 29th . Discussion: Soha Bechara, Resistance Week 13 April 3rd . Lecture: “Changing Pattern of War and Peace: Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Lebanon,” Cleveland, chs. 18&19 (Ebook) April 5th . Discussion: Juan Cole, ch. 1 “The Struggle for Islamic Oil,” Pp.7-39 and ch. 3 “The Wahhabi Myth,” Pp.83-113 in Juan Cole, Engaging the Muslim World, (CPM-7) Week 14 April 10th . Lecture: “The Iranian Revolution and the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait,” Cleveland, chs. 20&22 (Ebook) April 12th . Revision Books for the Primary Source Analysis: 5 1. Charles Adams, Islam and Modernism in Egypt; a Study of the Modern Reform Movement Inaugurated by Muḥammad ʻAbduh, (London: Oxford University Press, 1933). 2. Muhammad Zaki Badawi, The Reformers of Egypt: A Critique of Al-Afghani, Abduh and Ridha (Slough: The Open Press, 1976).