Universität Wien
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141017 SE Islam and Modernity (2025W)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
Moodle

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Dienstag 07.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 14.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 21.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 28.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 04.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 11.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 18.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 25.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 02.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 09.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 16.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 13.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 20.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Dienstag 27.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

The course explores the concept of modernity and, in particular, its cornerstone—secularism—in relation to Islam. It examines major scholarly debates on whether these notions are compatible with Islam or/and the ways they relate with it. For some, Islam in this relationship is associated with tradition, whereas modernity signifies certain progressive norms attached exclusively to the West. In this case, the relationship is seen as a contrastive, if not a hostile binary. Some others see modernity and secularism as inescapably blended, and their compatibility historically unavoidable. The course aims to disentangle these diverging discourses by looking at the major scholarly stands on these issues both in Western and Islamic/Arabic scholarship.

We will investigate the ways in which Islam was/is (re)defined and contested as religion in its operation with modernity and the ways how concepts such as tradition and heritage (turath), state, governance, law and human rights, gender, and selfhood are negotiated or disputed in this framework.

While the course cannot exhaustively cover the vast literature on secularism, modernity, and Islam, it will however extensively familiarize the students with major academic debates and trends on the themes and provide a solid foundation for further research.
Students are welcome for regular consultations throughout the semester.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Active participation in class
Seminar leading questions
Final presentation

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Active participation and reading: 30%:
Each student is expected to attend the seminar regularly, prepared with readings. The course is heavily based on discussion; therefore, students are expected to read and discuss intensively.
Discussion leading: 30%:
Each student will be assigned to take over a discussion leading for a session. This means the student must send 4 discussion questions to the group via e-mail or Moodle at least a day before the seminar. We will discuss the session based on these questions.
In-class exam: 40%
In-class exam; students will be given 5 questions which they will have to answer in writing in the classroom.

Prüfungsstoff

Discussion questions and in-class exam

Literatur

Literature
Aziz al-Azmeh. Islams and Modernities. 3rd ed. 1991. Reprint, London: Verso, 1999.
Amando Salvatore, Khalid Masud, Martin van Bruinessen. Eds. Islam and Modernity: Key Issues and Debates. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009.
Florian Zemmin. Modernity in Islamic Tradition: The Concept of ‘Society’ in the Journal al-Manar (Cairo, 1898–1940). Berlin: De Gruyter, 2018.
Markus Dressler et al. Eds. Islamicate Secularities in Past and Present. HSR Vol. 44. Special Issue, 2019.
Rushain Abbasi. Beyond the Realm of Religion: The Idea of the Secular in Premodern Islam. Dissertation: Harvard University, 2021.

For more readings, see the e-learning site.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

RP-3
WM-19

Letzte Änderung: Do 02.10.2025 11:26