Week 14

Radical Islam

Deadlines:

Quizzes and Part A Question:   Monday   11/25 at 11:30 pm in Webcourses but accepted until Wed.

Part B Tasks:                                 Wednesday 4/27 at 11:58 pm in Yellowdig.

Read:

Ball et al. chapter 10.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

1. Briefly recount the origins and history of Islam.
2. Identify key differences between moderate Islam and radical Islamism.
3. Recount the key tenets of radical Islam, including its conceptions of human nature and freedom.

4. Describe the four functions that radical Islamism performs for its adherents.

5. Describe radical Islamism’s view of and attitude toward democracy.

6. .Describe the origins and beliefs of ISIS.

PART A TASKS in Webcourses

See Tips for Posting in Part A in Files.

Q-0:  Is there an idea or a claim expressed in the readings that you find difficult, confusing, or unclear? If so, tell us which idea this is. Cite the document title and page where you encountered this idea. We cannot help you if the description of what is unclear is overly broad. You do not need to answer this question. If everything is clear, there is not point in answering. Q-0 is NOT for issues or ideas you understand but disagree with. It is only for ideas or claims you do not understand. If you have a disagreement or simply a doubt about an idea contained in the readings, you make that the basis of your critical question in Part B (Packback). Another student might answer your question there.

Q-1: Which idea(s) or claim(s) expressed in the readings (and viewing) did you find the most interesting or meaningful? Summarize that idea, claim or piece of information. Explain why you found it meaningful. Does it clarify something important in your mind? If so, what? Does it change something important in your thinking? If so, again what?

200 words minimum. State your word count.

 NOTE: In answering the question in Part A, you must strive to demonstrate that you reflected on the meaning of the readings and viewing. There is no right or wrong answer. There are only answers demonstrating shallow and perfunctory or serious and deep reflections on the material. We want to see the latter.

Your Part A answer is graded 50% for thoughtful content and 50% for proficient writing.

PART B TASKS in Yellowdig

Answer the following question raised by the instructor.

Is the Hijab really a Symptom of Greater Gender Inequality?

Is the practice of wearing a hijab necessarily a sign of greater gender inequality in Muslim countries than in Western countries?

Is wearing the hijab anymore unequal or oppressive of women than the social expectations of female attractiveness pervasive in Western countries? Think that in Western culture, rigid and demanding expectations of physical beauty are applied to females, but generally not to males. Many Western women wear high heels (hurtful for feet and backbone), spend countless hours in the gym and at the hairdresser, have surgery for breast enhancement and fat removal, and diet rigorously. Western women are also largely barred from cinema and television roles if they do not meet stereotypical beauty criteria. How many times did you see an ordinary looking woman present the news or the weather forecast on TV? Women in politics are often judged for their looks and dress. Etc. Etc. So again, the question is: Is the practice of wearing a hijab necessarily a sign of greater gender inequality in Muslim countries than in Western countries?

SOURCE: Ball et al., chapter 10.