Links:
[1] http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/programs/european-union
[2] http://www.swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/fachpublikationen/1010_Turkeys_Role_in_the_ME_KS.pdf
[3] http://www.swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/arbeitspapiere/chappell_Pakistan_format_ks.pdf
[4] http://www.boell.de/alt/en/05_world/5202.html
[5] http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch/Detail/?lng=en&id=106239
[6] http://www.swp-berlin.org/en/nc/scientist-detail/profile/christian-schaller.html
The European Union and the Muslim World
This foreign policy course offers a systematic overview on European Union relations with the Muslim World and Muslim Communities, including inside Europe, on the periphery of Europe, and finally further afield. It encompasses issues of security, international relations, and dialogue.
The course will cover:
One course in international relations, political science, or post World War II European history.
All IES courses require attendance and participation. Attendance is mandatory per IES policy. Any unexcused absence will incur a penalty of 3% on your final grade. Any student who has more than three (3) unexcused absences will receive an “F” as the final grade in the course. Absences due to sickness, religious observances, and family emergencies may be excusable at the discretion of the Center Director.
In the case of an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Academic Dean of the absence with an Official Excused Absence Form, as well as any other relevant documentation (e.g. a doctor’s note), and to keep a record thereof. This form must be turned in as soon as possible before the class, in the case of a planned absence, or immediately after the class, in the case of an unplanned absence, in order for the absence to be considered excused. It is also the student’s responsibility to inform the professor of the missed class. Students can collect and submit the Official Excused Absence Form from the office of the Academic Dean.
TESTS MISSED DURING UNEXCUSED ABSENCES CANNOT BE MADE UP!
The use of laptop computers during class is not permitted. Cell phones are to be switched off.
Updated information on your course and readings can be found on Moodle.
** PLEASE FAMILIARISE YOURSELF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE MOODLE PLATFORM. IT CONTAINS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ON COURSE TIMES, DEADLINES, AS WELL AS BEING USED FOR UP-TO-DATE POSTINGS BY ME!! **
The aim of the course is for the students to practically and theoretically analyse the complex political ties, economic interdependence and intercultural challenges of the European Union and Muslim countries and communities throughout the world, in addition to addressing Euro-Arab relations, conflicts and security issues. Students will be empowered to analyse the multi-faceted dimensions and strategic importance of EU-Muslim World relations in a multipolar international order, to gain an EU perspective and contrast this with US approaches in assessing dialogue and cooperation with Muslim countries. They will develop a deeper understanding of the intercultural communication aspects and perspectives of international relations beyond the usual “clash of civilizations” or religious-secular polemics.
Lectures, Presentations, Seminar discussions, Case studies, Field Study Visit
In-class presentation, Mid-term exam, final exam, term paper, active participation in class
GRADE EVALUATION:
Assignments % of Grade
Seminar discussions are based upon the compulsory readings and teaching introductions to the subject given at each session. I will give an introduction and background to the topic, and after the class presentation, all students are expected to join the seminar discussions following the teaching introductions with (prepared) questions and points related to the readings and with new ideas related to the conclusions presented. Additional material may also be distributed in class by the instructor in order to briefly develop relevant points raised.
Class Presentations are 10-15 minutes long and based upon one of the chapters in the reader. These chapters will be assigned in the first session. You will be expected to give a brief summary of the article to the class (including the “thesis” contained therein) and then to critically comment on the points raised in the article: is the author convincing, which points do you agree with or not, contrast it to other readings you have done etc. A short list of discussion questions should then be presented for the whole class to participate in a discussion on the issues raised. Please remember to give your colleagues any additional information which may be required for this!
Ideally there will be one individual student background presentation per session. You are expected to write a one-page handout for the presentation and distribute it as paper copies in class. PowerPoint presentations are very welcome, and will be put on Moodle as PDFs for the rest of the group.
The Mid-term exam consists of short answers based upon the compulsory readings and other materials distributed in class.
Term papers (between 12-15 pages, double spaced) must relate to one of the topics of the seminar and meet certain academic standards (see the Guide to Essay Writing on Moodle). The paper may be based on your class presentation (and the subsequent discussion).
This essay is to be worked on continuously throughout the semester. For that reason there are deadlines which are to be kept:
Please Note: Electronic files have to be sent via e-mail, paper copies of term papers *must* be handed over in class on the due day the latest. Sending several parts of the term paper in separated electronic documents or files will not be accepted. Please give your electronic files clear and distinct names such as e.g. 332-paper-yourlastname-keywordtopic.doc. This facilitates the identification of your term paper file.
The Final exam (90 minutes) consists of essay questions, based on arguments, facts, compulsory readings and other material distributed in class.
The European Union and the Muslim World – Background, Concepts, Actors
1. Introduction: The European Union and the Muslim World
Reading: To be given out in class
2. Intercultural dialogue
Reading: Silvestri (2007); Huntington (1993)
3. The “Clash of Civilizations”: Criticisms of Huntington’s thesis
Reading: Ajami (1993); Huntington (1993); Kirkpatrick and others (1993); Mahbubani (1993)
4. Islamophobia in the EU
Reading: Bangstad and Bunzl, 2009
5. Xenophobia in Europe and the rise of the radical right?
Reading: Gündüz, 2010
6. Who are the Muslim Democrats?
Reading: Springborg (2007)
Relations within the European Union with its Muslim communities
7. How Europe and its Muslim populations see each other
Reading: Allen and Wike (2009)
8. Muslim Communities inside Germany: foreigners within?
Reading: Lucassen 2002
9. Muslim Communities inside France: Laicité and Islam
Reading: Brulard (2009)
Relations with the periphery: A bridge to the Middle East?
10. EU How essential is Turkey to European security?
Reading: Taspinar (2007)
11. Mid-term Exam (on sessions 1-9)
12. Is EDSP possible without Turkey?
Reading: Perthes (2010)
Proposed Term Paper outline and preliminary reading due
13. A hawk’s view from Turkey: Implications of relations with Syria, Iran, and Israel
Reading: Kibaroglu (2007)
Relations beyond Europe
14. The European Union and Iran
Viva soft power? What does Iran want?
Reading: tba
15. The European Union and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Reading: Asseburg (2010)
Initial draft summary due
16. The European Union and the Arab Spring
Reading: Perthes (2011)
17. Relations with the Muslim World – a comparison of EU and US approaches
Readings: Asseburg (2007)
Wrap up: The way forward and comparative approaches
18. Class conclusions and recommendations
TERM PAPER DUE
FINAL EXAM
In addition to the above classroom meetings, there will also be a course-based meeting with a local Islamic group. Times and details will be announced in class.
For a list of further information sources and links, visit Moodle.
Dr. Michael Haynes successfully completed his PhD thesis on discourses of, and reception to post-war German cultural media from the Department of Politics, at the University of Glasgow in 1998, where he was also a tutor in Political Theory, and Comparative International Politics. Previous to this he earned a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and a first class degree in Politics from the University of Wales, Swansea. He currently teaches The University of Freiburg, and has work published in German Politics and Political Studies.