Islam and Politics: Interfaith Relations (ISLM90008)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | July |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
What is the intersection of Islam, politics and interfaith relations? This is a common theme in explorations of Islam and its role in the modern world. This subject explores how different Muslim communities and states, both in the past and present, have developed concepts, rules and understandings to engage with people of other faiths, and created societies that had a high degree of tolerance, if not acceptance, of the religious ‘Other’. It achieves this with a focus on the study of primary texts of Islam, agreements and charters as well as specific laws relevant to the regulation of inter-religious matters.
The subject surveys several historical periods and Muslim communities from the time of early Islam to the present day, with a particular focus on the Middle East. It considers how Muslim states responded to other religious traditions and communities in the past—during the early days of Islam and in the classical period—before exploring how Muslim-majority states engage with religious minorities today, including the rights and freedoms of religious minorities and contested notions of citizenship. It also considers religious diversity within Muslim communities and how different trends in Islamic thought respond to that.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- Gain a critical understanding of religious pluralism and conceptions of the religious 'other' in Islam, with a particular focus on contemporary issues such as citizenship, religious freedom, and interfaith harmony
- Be able to assess the dynamics of the relationship between Islam and politics in Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority contexts with particular reference to its impact on interreligious relationships
- Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the factors that have led to cohesive Muslim societies in the past, and those that promote interreligious harmony or have the potential to cause conflict today
- Demonstrate an ability to analyse current literature on Islam and Muslim-non-Muslim relations
- Be able to articulate, with evidence from Islamic tradition, an 'Islamic' understanding of religious pluralism.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should have:
- A deeper understanding of the basic ideological tenets and historical roots of Islamic radicalism and the global context within which it has emerged
- An appreciation of the diversity within Islam in relation to the above
- A deeper appreciation and improved ability to analyse the literature on Islam and politics – with reference to ‘clash of civilisations’
- Improved oral skills by participating in seminars
- Improved writing skills by producing a well-researched paper
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Eight Multiple Choice Quizzes
| In class | 15% |
Critical review of an Essential Reading and Presentation
| Throughout the teaching period | 15% |
Class Test Online
| End of the teaching period | 30% |
Interreligious Relations Project
| End of the assessment period | 40% |
| Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- July
Coordinator Abdullah Saeed Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Two 3-hour seminars per day Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 9 June 2025 Pre teaching requirements Students are expected read all essential readings and listen to all recorded lectures on Canvas during the pre-teaching period, before classes begin Teaching period 17 July 2025 to 24 July 2025 Last self-enrol date 16 June 2025 Census date 18 July 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 1 August 2025 Assessment period ends 29 August 2025 July contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours total
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please note:
- This is an intensive subject taught over 6 days
- Students must be admitted into either the fourth-year Honours program, or any graduate program in the Faculty of Arts to enroll in this subject.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Islamic Studies Specialisation (formal) Islamic Studies Specialisation (formal) Islamic Studies Specialisation (formal) Islamic Studies Specialisation (formal) Arabic Studies - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025