The course examines the phenomenon of "radical" forms of Islam that have emerged in the Middle East and South Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries.

10 x 2-hour seminars

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 1 report of 1000 words - 20%

■ 10-minute presentation - 20%

■ 1 x essay of 3000 words - 60%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the report and essay, but an extension to the deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ A recorded presentation as an alternative to the presentation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Analyse Islamic teachings on the phenomenon of "radical" Islam in the modern age.

■ Evaluate the reasons behind the emergence of Political Islam in the 19th and 20th centuries.

■ Assess the merits and weaknesses of various perspectives and views associated with Political Islam, based on acquired and critically analysed information.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Evaluate the difficulty in studying Political Islam, insofar as the choice of nomenclature inadequately reflects the diversity found in the media for such groups.

■ Assess reasons for the antagonism felt by some "radical" Muslims towards the West.

■ Analyse the varieties of Political Islam, whether these are manifestations of radical Sunni or Shi'a Islam and identify the geographical range of such movements.

■ Assess the different forms (political and apolitical) of groups that are often regarded as "puritanical" or "radical".

■ Critique the types of nomenclature used by some commentators and offer more nuanced alternatives.