Islam in the west: the politics of co-existence
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| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This course is designed to introduce and stimulate informed debate about the role of Islam in western societies. You will examine Islam and Muslim communities in western Europe and north America, looking at the adaptation and development of Muslim communities in the west from the perspective of scholarly study, including the challenges presented to western institutions and attitudes. You’ll also study the perspectives of Muslim believers as they struggle to understand what being a Muslim in the west means for them in the light of Islamic traditions and western cultures.
Course content
The course begins with a brief introduction to religious studies and social science methods; Muslim origins, beliefs, and practices; and the history of Muslim-Christian relations. You’ll explore major issues including: the public role of religion in western societies; the diversity of western Muslim populations; leadership and authority amongst western Muslims; the role of the media in the production and circulation of discourses about Islam; Muslim education, social and political engagement; and the politics of multiculturalism in western societies.
The course is taught using a study guide, two CDs which introduce a range of Muslim and non-Muslim voices on key issues, and two course texts. Discussion takes place in tutor-led online forums, which replace face-to-face tutorials. The course texts are:
Cesari, Joceleyn (2004) When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and the United States (Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan).
Ramadan, Tariq (2004) Western Muslims and the Future of Islam (Oxford: OUP).
When Islam and Democracy Meet examines the integration of Muslim communities in Western Europe and the United States. Part 1 analyses the representation of Islam in western media, changes in religious practice and institutional developments in European and American Muslim communities. Part 2 examines ideas of community amongst European and American Muslims, whilst Part 3 analyses emerging leadership patterns, concluding with a chapter on new directions in Muslim thought. This final chapter serves to introduce the second course text, which is written by leading Muslim intellectual Tariq Ramadan. Western Muslims and the Future of Islam reflects from the perspective of a ‘critical insider’ on the issues facing Muslims in the west. Beginning from the Qur’anic origins of the faith, Ramadan examines the meaning and historic development of sharia, early attempts to reform it in the west, and develops his arguments for the reform of Islamic education, social and political engagement, economics and inter-religious dialogue. The reception Ramadan’s work met by both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences and perspectives on the Cesari text are examined both in the Study Guide and through interviews on the audio CDs.
The assignments develop skills including analysis of media representations of Islam, development of electronic search skills, critical analysis of web-based material and the ability to construct an argument using appropriate evidence, concepts and theories from the humanities and social sciences. You’ll also develop the ability to review and assess different kinds of evidence in relation to issues facing Islam and Muslims in western societies.
This course makes extensive use of the internet. All the tutorials are online, an integral part of the course is a specially designed website, and some of your assignments will require you to use the internet. The course helps you to learn about using the internet to study and does not expect you to have highly developed online skills before you start. If you choose to take the course and you do not have regular access to the internet, you will find that your experience of the course is diminished.
Although this is a 30-point course it lasts only 18 weeks, therefore you will be studying at a rate equivalent to a 60-point course, but for a shorter period.
You will learn
You’ll gain a basic knowledge of Muslim traditions, be introduced to social scientific perspectives on questions of adaptation and integration of Muslim communities in western societies, and to debates within Muslim communities and the general public on those issues. Audio material includes interviews with authors of the set texts, critics and Muslim community leaders.
Vocational relevance
The course is intended for anyone with an interest in understanding more about Islam as a phenomenon and issues concerning Muslim communities in western societies. This may be of particular relevance to people who work with a broad public, such as teachers, social workers, police, health professionals etc.
Entry
AD252 does not assume any prior knowledge of Islam or the study of religion. You are not necessarily expected to have taken any other Open University courses before this one. Nevertheless, it is a Level 2 course and therefore some work at Level 1 would be useful preparation.
Level 1 courses help you to develop study skills such as logical thinking, clear expression, essay writing and the ability to select and interpret relevant material. The arts past and present (AA100) offers an introduction to all the disciplines in the Arts Faculty and to interdisciplinary work. Introducing the social sciences (DD101) or An introduction to the social sciences: understanding social change part 1 (DD121) and An intro to the social sciences: understanding social change part 2 (DD122) also offer a good introduction to University level study with an emphasis on society, politics, psychology and social policy, which are also relevant preparation for AD252. Our Student Registration & Enquiry Service will be able to tell you where you can see reference copies of AA100, or you can buy selected materials from Open University Worldwide Ltd. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. We particularly recommend doing so if you haven’t taken AA100 or done equivalent work at another university.
Qualifications
AD252 is an optional course in our
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03)
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03) (with Religious Studies)
- BA/BSc (Honours) European Studies (B10)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Social Sciences (B06)
- BA/BSc (Honours) International Studies (B11)
- Diploma in Religious Studies (D66)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Social Sciences (E50)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course materials can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
Students with a visual impairment may find visual material (maps and illustrations) challenging, since they are often intended to communicate complex visual as well as factual information. However, this course uses relatively few visual records (approximately 20), and full written descriptions of this visual material will be made available for visually impaired students. The fulfilment of the learning outcomes of the course will not be dependent upon powers of visual discernment in this course and assessment will not incorporate visual materials.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Printed course materials and two audio CDs, course website. You’ll also be sent copies of the course texts:
Cesari, Joceleyn (2004) When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and the United States (Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan).
Ramadan, Tariq (2004) Western Muslims and the Future of Islam (Oxford: OUP).
You will need
The ability to play audio CDs.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance both in online forums and by telephone or email. Teaching will also be via an online forum, for which full guidance will be provided.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in September 2010 when it will be available for the last time.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
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An undergraduate course in Arts and Humanities.
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