Politics of the Modern Middle East (ISLM90007)

This subject examines the intricate relationship between Islam and politics in the Middle East from the late 19th century to the present. The subject investigates Muslims’ various conceptualisations of religion and politics in the region, exploring how Islam has shaped reactions to colonisation and neoimperialism, state formation, governance, political movements, and conflicts in the region. Key areas of focus include the role of Islam in nationalist and liberation movements, the rise and transformations of political Islam, debates around shariʿa, and the intersections between religion and authoritarianism. Additionally, the subject will touch on Australia’s role and attitude to politics in the region. Importantly, this subject challenges the dominant narratives that often view Middle Eastern politics through an Orientalist or Islamophobic lens—perspectives that reduce the region’s complexities to monolithic or stereotypical depictions. Instead, this subject is grounded in multidisciplinary frameworks, drawing on history, political science, religious studies, sociology, and international relations to provide a nuanced and critical understanding of the Middle East.

Students will engage with diverse methodologies and theoretical approaches that highlight the region’s diversity and the varied ways in which Islam intersects with social and political structures. The subject aims to foster a deeper and more critical appreciation of how Middle Eastern states and societies navigate the challenges of modernity, identity, and globalisation, with particular attention to the ways Islamic ideologies and institutions contribute to and are influenced by these dynamics. The subject ultimately seeks to equip students with the analytical tools needed to critically assess and contribute to contemporary debates on Middle Eastern politics.