Politics and Society in Middle East and Africa 2100-MON-PSBW-OG

The aim of the course is to analyze the axiological foundations of the socio-political order in the Middle East and Africa, their contemporary transformations, transgressions, reinterpretations.

Student Workload Balance (ECTS Credits)

2 ECTS credits (assuming that a minimum of 25 hours equals 1 ECTS credit)
Total amount of work of the student within the course: 50 hours
Contact Hours: 20 hours
Number of hours of independent student work: 30 hours, including
• Ongoing preparation for classes (including reading literature, preparation for participation in debate): 25 hours
• Preparation for writing a colloquium: 5 hours

Thematic scope:

I. Relations between the state and religion in the Middle East and Africa.

1. Islam and democracy and civil society.
2. Pan-Islamism and postcolonial nation-states.
3. ideological and political potential of the Christian elite.

II. The idea of the caliphate: doctrinal foundations and historical tradition.

1. Is there a universal model of a modern state based on Islam?
• Evolution of the idea of the caliphate since the Muslim conquests by Baghdad, Damascus, Istanbul, European caliphates, e.g. Cordoba to the times of ISISL - "anti-caliphate"?
• Divine order on earth or an efficient tool for legitimizing power among the followers of Islam?
• Al Farabi's "perfect state" and the reality under the Daesh rule - aspects: legal and moral. The perfect head of state - the ideal of the caliph.
2. Islam in the constitution, legislation, sharia and statutory law, the specificity of the moral police.

III. Religious factor in undemocratic systems, the specificity of Arab authoritarianism.

Totalitarianism and authoritarianism: the Middle East approach, Libyan and Iraqi systems as the most ideologized in the region.
Types of authoritarianism: similarities and differences. Monarchies and republics.
1. Model of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - comparative characteristics.
2. Traditional sources of legitimizing power in Arab and African cultures and their contemporary forms.
3. Hamas and Hezbollah as a contemporary implementation of the idea of Az-Zaim in the institutional and social context.
4. "Arab Spring" - diagnosis of the condition of Arab systems - a renaissance of religiosity?
5. Old and new authoritarianism: changing the nature of the relationship between the regime and the army and capital; populist strategy versus liberal strategy, social support, party structure, regime legitimacy,

IV. Middle East and African elites; leadership problem:

1. The characters of Saddam Hussein, Muammar Kadaffi, Omar al-Bashir and their influence on MS in the region
2. Gulf Monarchies.

V. The role of religious fundamentalisms - Muslim fundamentalism - its genesis and manifestations.

1. Definition, the genesis of the term, typology. For example, state, political, ethnic and religious fundamentalism.
Muslim fundamentalism - the concepts of salafija, neosalafija
Famous ideologues: Maududi- the concept of hakamija, Hassan al Banna, Said Qutb.
2. Examples of fundamentalist groups: Association of Muslim Brothers, Hamas.
The Organization for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas - two faces of Palestinian nationalism. Refusal of Palestinian Self-Determination as a Source of Terrorism Escalation in the Region.
PLO - official representative of Palestinian interests, exponent of Palestinian nationalism, guardian of identity.
Socio-political determinants of Hamas success, Hamas Charter, Hamas' Anti-Semitism
3. Al-Ka'ida and its emanations
4.Shiite fundamentalism (Hezbollah)
• Iranian security strategy - concepts: Shi'ite crescent, strategic depth, strategic ballistic arc - real influences of the Islamic Republic or their projection?
• Hizbullah's activities in response to the implosion of state structures in Lebanon:
• open letter of 1985, UN resolutions 1701, 1559.
• Relations between organizations: Hamas and Hezbollah, Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brothers.

VI. Socio-economic problems.

1. Social contestation of the established order, protest movement 2011-2020.
2. Religion and Arab socialism. Definitions, differences, views - an ideological element.
3. Middle East and Africa in the face of globalization.
4. Global Islam - multinational.
5. Fundamentalism and globalization.

VII Multicultural Israel:

1. Socio-political divisions of Israeli society.

Course coordinators

Paulina Warsza

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

Basic knowledge of the political geography, history, religions and cultures of the Middle East acquired in the course of previous education or resulting from personal interests; knowledge of current events related to the Middle East region. Knowledge of English at a level that allows the use of professional literature is an asset.

Learning outcomes

W01 has in -deoh knowledge about the evolution of state systems in the region (including theoretical assumptions and examples of practical implementation of the idea of the caliphate), as well as the specificity of nation states in the Middle East and Africa.
W02 has in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of socio-political and economic decision makingin the region.
W03 Indentify and characterizes the solutions of socio-political structures and institutions specific to the region.
K01 is ready to critically assess political declarations in the field of foreign policy in relation to the international reality in the region
K04 Responsibly initiates and creates projects in the socio-political field with regards to the countries of the region
With reference to the following general effects:
U01 is able to accurately, clearly and coherently express himself orally and in writing on socio-political phenomena in the Middle East and Africa; prepares written papers that meet the basic criteria of a scientific study in the field of specific issues in the field of international relations science and related disciplines, and is able to comprehensively justify his views orally.
U02 Critically analyzes information, news and media coverage about the Middle East and Africa.
U03 Analyzes and interprets the socio-political phenomena in the region from the perspective of various paradigms, such as constructivism, post-colonialism.
S4_W01, S4_W02, S4_W03, S4_W04, S4_W05, S4_W06, S4_W07, S4_U01, S4_U02, S4_U03, S4_U04, S4_U05, S4_U06, S4_U07, S4_K01, S4_K02, S4_K03, S4_K04

Assessment criteria

1. Attendance (1 absence allowed, each next one must be treated separately)
2. Colloquium: a paper in the form of two short essays on two selected topics, from among the topics discussed (written under the supervision of the teacher). verification of the following learning outcomes: W01, W02, W03, U01, U02, U03.
3. Active classes participation 50% of the final grade: assessed based on regular, substantive input, in class assignments, discussion participation supported by the knowledge of literature: U01, U02, U03, K01, K04; participation in the in-class debate: U01, U02, UO3, K01, K04
Before each class, a links to literature available online, including new items in response to current events in the region, are provided, as well as issues to be deliberated upon by students to help during class discussions and colloquium preparation,

Grading scale:
From 60% satisfactory
From 75% good
From 80% good +
From 90% very good

REGULATION OF THE USE OF I A:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are subject to the rules set out in Resolution No. 98 of the University Council for Education of the University of Warsaw of 8 December 2023 on guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence tools in the education process and Resolution of the Didactic Council of the Faculty No.29/2025 on Artificial Intelligence (AI) of 7 May 2025 on detailed rules for the use of artificial intelligence tools in the education process).
Course specific rules: the use of AI is not allowed in the textual layer of any material used in classes, including examination, presentations, assignments, pre-prepared text of oral statements: level 1 of resolution 29/2025. Usage permitted only in the visual layer and subsidiarily during the student's own work, i.e. guided self-education: level 2 of Resolution 29/2025.

Practical placement

Not applicable.

Bibliography

Before each class, the links to literature available online, including new items in response to current events in the region, are provided.

R. R. Andersen, R. F. Seibert, J.G. Wagner, Politics and Change in the Middle East. Sources of Conflict and Accommodation, New Jersey 2004, r. 9 i 10 (Political Elites, Political Leadership in the Contemporary Middle East)
Oz, Almog, Wielokulturowy Izrael, Warszawa 2011
Robert, Blackburn, Arab burden of corny capitalism, www.financialworld.co.uk, May 2011, s 28-29. ( PDF. udostępniony mailowo).
Gunning, Jeroen, Hamas in Politics, Londyn 2007 (pdf)
Upgrading Authoritarianism in the Arab World, ANALYSIS PAPER, Number 13, October 2007 ( PDF. udstępniony mailowo).
Karta Hamasu ( jest dostępna w Internecie, posiadam format word)
Abu Zaid, Nasr, Reformation of Islamic Thought: A Critical Historical Analysis, Scientific Council for Government Policy, Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam 2006
Abu Zaid, Nasr, Rethinking of the Qur’an: Towards a Humanistic Hermeneutics, Humanistic University Press, Amsterdam 2004
Danecki, Janusz, Podstawowe wiadomości o islamie, tom 2., Dialog, Warszawa 1997 ( Zwłaszcza strony: 51-87, 119-150).
Danecki, Janusz, Polityczne funkcje islamu, Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, Warszawa 1991
Danecki, Janusz, Muzułmańscy fundamentaliści a Europa. Koncepcja islamu w dziele Mustafy As Siba’iego, [w:] Pochwała historii powszechnej, Warszawa 1996
Dziekan, Marek, Irak. Religia i Polityka, Warszawa 2007
Gunning, Jeroen, Hamas in Politics, London 2007 (pdf)
Gulf monarchies may update power structures, https://dailybrief.oxan.com/Analysis/DB227726/Gulf-monarchies-may-update-power-structures.
Harik , Hezbollah the changing face of terrorism, 2004 (pdf.)
Islamic Activism a social movement theory approach, Indiana Series in Middle East Studies, Indiana 2004 ( pdf)
Kirdar. M. J,. AL QAEDA IN IRAQ, 2011( pdf)
Litvak, Mehr, The Anti-Semitism of Hamas ( pdf.)
Landau, Jacob, The Politics of Pan-Islam: ideology and organization, Clarendon Press, Oksford 1992
Mrozek-Dumanowska, Anna, Religia a globalizacja, Warszawa 2014
Najjar, Fauzi, The Arabs, Islam and Globalization, Middle East Policy, Vol. XII, no. 3, jesień 2005, www.policyinnovations Islam and globalism
Norton, Angus Richard, Hezbollah a short story,2009, (pdf)
Ramadan, Tarik, Western Muslims and the Future of Islam, Oxford University Press, Londyn 2004
Ramadan, Tarik, A curious historical shift, The need for an Arab Cultural Revolution, 2013
http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article12797&lang=fr
Strindberg , Realities of Resistance Hizballah, the Palestinia, 2005 ( pdf)
Tibi, Bassam, Fundamentalizm religijny, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1997
Turner, Bryan, S., Orientalism. Postmodernism & Globalizm, Routledge 1997
Xavier, Raufer, Atlas radykalnego Islamu, Dialog, Warszawa 2011 ( Zwłaszcza Radykakny sunnizm: strony 19-30, radykalny szyizm: strony 377-451)
Mrozek-Dumanowska, Anna, Zdanowski, Jerzy (red.), Islam a globalizacja, Wydawnictwo Naukowe ASKON, Warszawa 2005
Zdanowski, Jerzy, Współczesna muzułmańska myśl społeczno-polityczna. Ruch Braci Muzułmanów, Warszawa 2009
Zdanowski, Jerzy, Bracia Muzułmanie i inni, Glob, Szczecin 1986
Literatura do zajęć dotyczących idei kalifatu:
Al-Farabi, Państwo doskonałe. Polityka, Biblioteka Klasyków Filozofii, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1967r.,s. 49-118
KATARZYNA WASILEWSKA – ZEMBRZUSKA, Teoria państwa doskonałego Al-Farabiego i jej greckie źródła.,
Mirosław Sadowski, Ze studiów nad wczesnomuzułmańską doktryną państwa, w: Politeja, Pismo Wydziału Studiów Międzynarodowych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, nr 2, Kraków 2004, ss. 243-278.
Stefaniuk T., Al-Farabi i początki filozofii politycznej w świecie islamu, [w:] Nowoczesność, Europa,
Islam. Religia a dylematy obywatelstwa i wykluczenia, (red.) Chazbijewicz S., Turowski M., Skarbek,K., Wrocław 2012, s. 21-36.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/11/12-ways-isis-gets-funding/
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syria/2015-04-15/caliphate-law

Term 2026Z:

Before each class, the links to literature available online, including new items in response to current events in the region, are provided.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: