AHCP181

Islam and The West: Continuing Conflict or Eventual Accommodation?

The view that the values of Islamic and Western societies are incompatible, even inimical, is shared by radical Islamist groups and was famously formulated in 1993 by Samuel Huntington as leading to a clash of civilizations that would dominate the contemporary world stage, in both cultural antagonism and violence.

We will examine the roots of the conflicts that currently beset parts of the globe, and that for many serve as their only view of Islam. We will consider these conflicts from a historical perspective, briefly reviewing the idea of conquest and the Crusades. We will also attempt to see how shared common ground can lead to mutual respect and understanding of differing world views and the cultures based on them.

This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):

Section	Session(s)	Date/time	Campus	Instructor(s)	Cost	Registration
AHCP181-VA1137	6	Wednesdays Sep 11–Oct 16 6:30–8:20 pm	Van		$160 ($104 for adults 55+)	Cancelled

What will I learn?

Week 1: Brief History of a Troubled Relationship

We will present an overview of the history of Islam and the West and provide definitions and distinctions. Islam and the West have fundamentally differing world views and traditions, religion being central to Muslim affairs, while in modern Western societies religion is a marginal cultural influence and separate from politics.

Week 2: Conquests and Crusades

Coupled with political and economic ambition, the differences in creed and tradition led to a contentious rivalry between the West and Islam, and conquests and the Crusades ensued. The West views Islam as spread through the sword, while Muslims see the West engaged in a continuous war against Islam.

Week 3: New Realities

Real change has occurred in both the West and Islam over the past century and more. Each side contains diversity within it, and today are much more interdependent than independent as trade, travel, education, and emigration have changed the landscape of both dominions.

Week 4: Challenges

Despite the new realities, challenges persist. Muslims must open the gates of Ijtihad, re-think their approach towards the West, and overcome their fears of the outside world. The West, on the other hand, needs to deal with its biases and misconceptions about Muslims.

Week 5: Getting to Know Each Other

The West and Islam should know one another and build on the vast common ground already shared. Economic and political cooperation is a necessity and is already happening. Differences must be recognized, and excused and extremism contained and countered.

Week 6: Review and Questions

We will review the main ideas of the course and answer and ask questions as we end by exploring practical ways and steps to achieve better cooperation between the West and Islam.

How will I learn?

Lectures
Discussion (may vary from class to class)
Papers (applicable only to certificate students)

Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone who is interested in learning about the current conflicts that trouble Western and Islamic societies and their ideological and philosophical origins.

How will I be evaluated?

For certificate students only:

Your instructor will evaluate you based on an essay, which you will complete at the end of the course. You will receive a grade of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory.”

Textbooks and learning materials

Reading material (if applicable) will be available in class. Some course materials may be available online.