Global Arc

Syriac is a dialect of Aramaic very similar to the language spoken by Jesus in first-century Palestine. Aramaic-speaking Christians in the Near East soon adopted Syriac as their literary language: by the early fourteenth century Syriac Christianity spread from the western Mediterranean to China. In this seminar we shall be exploring the origins of Syriac Christianity in the Near East and its spread along the Silk Road before 1500.

This seminar examines the evolution of American diplomacy and military policy in the Middle East from the late Cold War through the "Unipolar movement" and 9/11 to the very recent past. Given the militarization of American policy, it pays particular attention to the use of force. It asks why military force has become the defining instrument of US foreign policy in this region, seeks to evaluate the efficacy of America's military interventions, and to identify the sources of American conduct. Prior coursework in international relations and Middle Eastern history is beneficial but there are no prerequisites.

Since the attack against a Jewish school in March 2012, France has experienced, as have other countries, traumatic terror attacks. Most of these acts have been perpetrated by French and Belgian citizens of North African descent claiming to be acting in the name of jihadi groups such as ISIS. This course aims at understanding this terrible violence by relocating its authors in a French and European context since the 1970s. Above all, beyond the enigma of the terrorists, this course will explore a broader issue: the very diverse situation of the Muslims in France in an era of uncertainty, racial divide, and political contentions.

Ancient Near Eastern religions conceive of the divine as a relative category, which not only defines anthropomorphic deities but can be extended to demons, humans, and cultic objects. Rather than being conceived as an individual person, a deity represented an agent of functions and roles placed in the social constellation of the pantheon. The fluid understanding of the divine and the political setting of rising territorial states and empires eventually allowed for the development of the concept of national deities such as Marduk, Assur, and Yahweh. This course traces the interface between polytheism and the formation of monotheism.

This course will discuss how civil war has transformed the states and societies of the modern Middle East and North Africa. Drawing on rich historical literature, theoretical perspectives, and empirical analysis, the course will give students an understanding of the context in which civil wars occur, the forms of order that emerge when states break down, and the long-term consequences of violence and its aftermath.

An examination of major facets of Islamic political thought from the late 19th century to the present in a broadly comparative framework and against the backdrop of medieval Islamic thought. Topics include: the "fragmentation" of religious authority and its consequences for Muslim politics; conceptions of the shari'a and of the Islamic state; and Islamist discourses on gender, violence, and relations with non-Muslims. One three-hour seminar.

An introduction to the political, social and cultural history of the Arabic-speaking Middle East, in addition to Iran, Israel, and Turkey from the late 19th century until the turn of the 21st century. Topics covered include: the end of the Ottoman and Qatar Empires; the integration of the Middle East into the world economy; the establishment of the Middle East state system; the development of political institutions, ideologies and religious revivalist movements; nationalism; women's movements; gender; the spread of political Islam; as well as literature, film and other forms of media.Two lectures, one preceptorial.

The history of the Arab-Israeli conflict up to 1967. Due to its contentious theme, it stresses historiographic problems and primary sources; also, it looks at Israeli and Palestinian societies as much as at the conflict between them. Questions include the ideological vs. practical roots of, and religious/secular elements in, Zionism and Palestinian nationalism; politico-economic links between the two societies; breaks in their social and/or ethnic composition; the effects of collective traumas and warfare on socio-political structures and gender; and the role of foreign powers and regional states. Two lectures, one preceptorial.

A general survey of the main principles of Islamic doctrine. Focuses on the Muslim theological discourse on the concepts of God and God's attributes, man and nature, the world to come, revelation and prophethood, diversity of religions, and the possibility and actuality of miracles. One three-hour seminar.

Syria and Lebanon played crucial political and cultural roles in the 20th century Middle East. As the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah and Syria's enduring regional power show, this situation has not changed in the early 21st century. This course uses primary sources (films, novels, posters, documents) and academic texts to delve into these two countries' intertwined modern history. Simultaneously, general conceptual questions raised--What forms does nationalism take in new states?, How do authoritarian states function?--will sharpen students' analytical grasp of the Middle East as a whole.