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Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 40 hours
  • Course by University of Copenhagen
  • Offered by

About

Learn what motivates the restive Muslim youth from Tunis to Tehran, what political positions Islamists from Mali to Chechnya are fighting for, where the seeming obsession with Islamic law comes from, where the secularists have vanished to, and whether it makes sense to speak of an Islamic state. Since 2009 there has been a renewed wave of popular unrest sweeping throughout much of the Muslim world. Secular, but generally repressive and inefficient autocracies have come under pressure or been swept aside entirely. At the same, the various Islamic Republics have not fared much better, but been convulsed by internal unrest, economic and social decline. Throughout the Muslim lands, existing constitutional arrangements are being challenged, often very violently. This course is a survey of the constitutional ideas and institutions that have developed since the mid 19th century throughout predominantly Muslim countries, but its focus will lie on the actors that have dominated this discourse and shaped its outcomes. We will look at the large body of classical writings on the Islamic state only in so far as it is necessary to understand the contemporary debate, but concentrate on the legal and political developments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Three common themes will characterise the course:  We privilege the study of the legal and social reality and seek to highlight where it is at odds with dogmatic stipulations, be they religious or constitutional.  We seek to illustrate the practical tensions posed by limited administrative capabilities and political legitimacy that resulted from the incomplete reception of modern bureaucratic statehood.  We seek to examine how popular dissatisfaction with the practical performance of Muslim governments has fuelled demands for greater accountability under the guise of cultural authenticity.  Ultimately, the course aims to equip participants to better understand Muslim contemporary discourse about the res publica, better contextualise the demands for religious law in public life, and to better ascertain the theoretical and practical feasibility of postulated religious alternatives to the still-dominant secular model of governance.

Modules

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 1: Presenting the Course

Lesson 1: Welcome and Introduction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.1 Welcome and Introduction

Lesson 2: Presenting the Region

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.2 Presenting the Region

Lesson 3: Early Modern history

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.3 Early Modern History

Lesson 4: Unresolved Challenge of Modernity

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.4 Unresolved Challenge of Modernity

Lesson 5: Four Models of Adaptation

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.5 Four Models of Adaptation

Lesson 6: Indicators of Relative Failure

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.6 Indicators of Relative Failure

Lesson 7: Role of Religion and Islamic Law

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 1.7 Role of Religion and Islamic Law

Quiz on the Fundamentals of the Course

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 1 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings week 2: Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey

Lesson 1: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 2.1 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 2: Ottoman History

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 2.2 Ottoman History

Lesson 3: Ottoman Reform: Tanzimat and Majallah

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 2.3 Ottoman Reform: Tanzimat and Majallah

Lesson 4: Creation of the Republic

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 2.4 Creation of the Republic

Lesson 5: Kemalism and its Problems

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 2.5 Kemalism and its Problems

Lesson 6: Westernisation and Islamism

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 2.6 Westernisation and Islamism

Quiz on Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 2 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 3: Egypt and Maghreb

Lesson 1: People, Place and Patterns Egypt

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.1 People, Place and Patterns Egypt

Lesson 2: People, Places and Patterns Maghreb

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.2 People, Places and Patterns Maghreb

Lesson 3: Ottoman and Colonial History

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.3 Ottoman and Colonial History

Lesson 4: Independence

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.4 Independence

Lesson 5: Modernisation and Reform

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.5 Modernisation and Reform

Lesson 6: Nasserism and its Problems

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.6 Nasserism and its Problems

Lesson 7: Westernisation and Islamism

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 3.7 Westernisation and Islamism

Quiz on Egypt and Maghreb

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 3 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 4: Saudi Arabia and The Gulf

Lesson 1: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.1 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 2: Ottoman and Colonial History

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.2 Ottoman and Colonial History

Lesson 3: Patrimonialism and Religion

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.3 Patrimonialism and Religion

Lesson 4: Rentier Economies and Administration

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.4 Rentier Economies and Administration

Lesson 5: Impact of Rents

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.5 Impact of Rents

Lesson 6: Paradoxical Alliance

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.6 Paradoxical Alliance

Lesson 7: Unresolved Contradictions

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 4.7 Unresolved Contradictions

Quiz on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 4 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 5: Iran & The Shiites

Lesson 1: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.1 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 2: Imperial and Colonial History

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.2 Imperial and Colonial History

Lesson 3: Constitutional Revolution and Reaction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.3 Constitutional Revolution and Reaction

Lesson 4: Nationalist Revolution and Reaction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.4 Nationalist Revolution and Reaction

Lesson 5: Islamic Revolution and Reaction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.5 Islamic Revolution and Reaction

Lesson 6: Khomeini's Theory of Velayat -e Faqih

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.6 Khomeini's Theory of Velayat-e Faqih

Lesson 7: Unresolved Contradictions

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 5.7 Unresolved Contradictions

IRAN'S BIGGEST PROBLEM

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • IRAN'S BIGGEST PROBLEM

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 6: The Levant

Lesson 1: Taking Stock and Midway Summary

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.1 Taking Stock and Midway Summary

Lesson 2: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.2 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 3: French Mandates

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.3 French Mandates

Lesson 4: British Mandates

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.4 British Mandates

Lesson 5: Order and Fractures Societies

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.5 Order and Fractured Societies

Lesson 6: Failure of Arab Socialism

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.6 Failure of Arab Socialism

Lesson 7: Unresolved Contradictions

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 6.7 Unresolved Contradictions

Quiz on the Levant

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 6 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 7: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh

Lesson 1: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.1 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 2: Colonial History of British India

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.2 Colonial History of British India

Lesson 3: Post-Independence: Pakistan and Bangladesh

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.3 Post-Independence: Pakistan and Bangladesh

Lesson 4: Afghanistan: Creation of the State and 'Golden Years'

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.4 Afghanistan: Creation of the State and ‘Golden Years’

Lesson 5: Afghanistan: Jihadi Gangsters

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.5 Afghanistan: Jihadi Gangsters

Lesson 6: Failure of State-Building and Islamisation

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.6 Failure of State-Building and Islamisation

Lesson 7: Unresolved Contradictions

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 7.7 Unresolved Contradictions

Quiz on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 7 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for Week 8: Malaysia and Indonesia

Lesson 1: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 8.1 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 2: Colonial History Malaysia

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 8.2 Colonial History Malaysia

Lesson 3: Colonial History Indonesia

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 8.3 Colonial History Indonesia

Lesson 4: Post-Independence Malaysia

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 8.4 Post-Independence Malaysia

Lesson 5: Post-Independence Indonesia

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 8.5 Post-Independence Indonesia

Lesson 6: Unresolved Contradictions

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 8.6 Unresolved Contradictions

Quiz on Malaysia and Indonesia

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 8 Quiz

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Reading Week 9: Sub-Saharan Africa

Week 9: People, Place and Patterns

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 9.1 People, Place and Patterns

Lesson 2: Colonial History Muslim Africa

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 9.2 Colonial History Muslim Africa

Lesson 3: Neo-Colonial Legacies

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 9.3 Neo-Colonial Legacies

Lesson 4: Weak States and Institutions

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 9.4 Weak States and Institutions

Lesson 5: Post.Independence Instability

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 9.5 Post-Independence Instability

Lesson 6: Fractured Constitutional Bargains

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 9.6 Fractured Constitutional Bargains

PERSISTENCE OF PROBLEMS

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • PERSISTENCE OF PROBLEMS

Literature

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings Week 10: Conclusion and Outlook

Lesson 1: Commonality and Diversity

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 10.1 Commonality and Diversity

Lesson 2: Unity and Friction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 10.2 Unity and Friction

Lesson 3: Minorities

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 10.3 Minorities

Lesson 4: Legal and Social Reality

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 10.4 Legal and Social Reality

Lesson 5: Practical Tensions

    • 1 Videos
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  • 10.5 Practical Tensions

Lesson 6: Popular Dissatisfaction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 10.6 Popular Dissatisfaction

Lesson 7: Good Bye

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • 10.7 Good Bye

Quiz on the Final Week

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 10 Quiz

Auto Summary

Explore the dynamic political landscape of the Muslim world with the course "Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World." Designed for those interested in personal development, this course delves into the motivations of youth from Tunis to Tehran, the political aims of Islamists from Mali to Chechnya, and the origins of the focus on Islamic law. It also investigates the disappearance of secularists and the concept of an Islamic state. Since 2009, the Muslim world has experienced significant unrest, challenging both secular autocracies and Islamic Republics. This course provides a comprehensive survey of constitutional ideas and institutions that have evolved since the mid-19th century in predominantly Muslim countries. The focus is on key actors shaping this discourse and its outcomes, with an emphasis on the 20th and 21st centuries. Three central themes guide the course: 1. Highlighting the disparity between legal and social realities versus religious or constitutional stipulations. 2. Examining the tensions between limited administrative capabilities and political legitimacy. 3. Understanding how dissatisfaction with governance has driven demands for greater accountability framed as cultural authenticity. Participants will gain insights into contemporary Muslim discourse about governance, contextualize the role of religious law in public life, and evaluate the feasibility of religious governance models compared to secular ones. Led by Coursera, this foundational-level course spans 2400 minutes and is available through a Starter subscription. It is perfect for learners seeking a deeper understanding of the political and legal challenges in the Muslim world.

Dr. Ebrahim Afsah
Instructor

Dr. Ebrahim Afsah