Instructor: Dr. Calvert
The past thirty years have witnessed the rise of political parties and other formal groups in the Middle East and elsewhere with Islamic agendas, a phenomenon that has both surprised and frightened many in the West. Events from the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79 to the attacks of September 11, 2001 have led some to conclude that the United States is on a collision course with Islam, the religion of one-fifth of the world’s population. The course aims to enhance our understanding of the Islamist phenomenon by shedding light on the origins, goals, and practices of Islamic-focused groups and movements throughout the Muslim world.