141212 SE A History of Modern Jihad, 1924-2014 c.a. (2026S)
8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Su 01.02.2026 00:00 to Tu 03.03.2026 08:00
- Deregistration possible until Tu 31.03.2026 08:00
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Tuesday 10.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 17.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 24.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 14.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 21.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 28.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 05.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 12.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- N Tuesday 19.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 26.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 02.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 09.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 16.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 23.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
- Tuesday 30.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
Teaching format
Classes are divided in two sections. The first one -approximately lasting one hour- consists of frontal lesson, followed by half an hour of in-class discussion. Students are expected to read in advance three short obligatory readings, provided by the module convenor at the beginning of the semester. They will also have access to an extended reading list that, nevertheless, is not mandatory but optional. The course will not be recorded but students have the rights to contact the convenor anytime and unlimitedly for an in-person or virtual meeting in case of need or clarifications.
Evaluation
The final evaluation consists of a final research paper. This consists of 6,000 words, footnotes/endnotes and bibliography excluded. Students are expected to choose the topic of their own paper. This could be directly related to a specific class or a different subject as long as it is related to the broader theme of the module. They should communicate the topic to the module convenor by the end of week 4 of teaching (17 April 2026). The module convenor remains available to individual meetings -online and in-person- to discuss the papers’ topics throughout the semester as well as committed to give each student a tailored starting reading list for the purpose of it.
Classes are divided in two sections. The first one -approximately lasting one hour- consists of frontal lesson, followed by half an hour of in-class discussion. Students are expected to read in advance three short obligatory readings, provided by the module convenor at the beginning of the semester. They will also have access to an extended reading list that, nevertheless, is not mandatory but optional. The course will not be recorded but students have the rights to contact the convenor anytime and unlimitedly for an in-person or virtual meeting in case of need or clarifications.
Evaluation
The final evaluation consists of a final research paper. This consists of 6,000 words, footnotes/endnotes and bibliography excluded. Students are expected to choose the topic of their own paper. This could be directly related to a specific class or a different subject as long as it is related to the broader theme of the module. They should communicate the topic to the module convenor by the end of week 4 of teaching (17 April 2026). The module convenor remains available to individual meetings -online and in-person- to discuss the papers’ topics throughout the semester as well as committed to give each student a tailored starting reading list for the purpose of it.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to formulate their own hypotheses and develop autonomous critical thinking on the subject. In particular, they will be able to:
Understand jihad as a polysemic notion holding religious, moral, ethical, political, and also violent meanings
Problematise the multiple understandings of jihad through their historical genesis and developments as well as their social, cultural, political, and economic causesAssess the longer history of modern jihad, its conceptual modifications in different time periods and travelling across multiple geographic contexts
Identify the major trends in political discourses on jihad -inside the Islamic and the Western world- their theoretical foundations, their strengths and limitations, and their impact upon politics and social life
Become acquainted with primary sources, where to retrieve them, their ethical dilemmas, legitimate and non-legitimate use, and their critical reading
Familiarise themselves with research practices related to the topic, their potential as well as limitations in producing specific outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to formulate their own hypotheses and develop autonomous critical thinking on the subject. In particular, they will be able to:
Understand jihad as a polysemic notion holding religious, moral, ethical, political, and also violent meanings
Problematise the multiple understandings of jihad through their historical genesis and developments as well as their social, cultural, political, and economic causesAssess the longer history of modern jihad, its conceptual modifications in different time periods and travelling across multiple geographic contexts
Identify the major trends in political discourses on jihad -inside the Islamic and the Western world- their theoretical foundations, their strengths and limitations, and their impact upon politics and social life
Become acquainted with primary sources, where to retrieve them, their ethical dilemmas, legitimate and non-legitimate use, and their critical reading
Familiarise themselves with research practices related to the topic, their potential as well as limitations in producing specific outcomes
Examination topics
Prior Knowledge
This module is purposefully designed to be interdisciplinary, in between History and International Relations. It is also thought as an introduction to the theme of the history of jihad. A basic grasp of modern history of the Islamic world is useful, but it is not essential, as background readings will be provided. A basic understanding of theoretical approaches to International Relations, especially security studies, is also helpful, though not strictly necessary. None of these elements should deter interested students from attending.
This module is purposefully designed to be interdisciplinary, in between History and International Relations. It is also thought as an introduction to the theme of the history of jihad. A basic grasp of modern history of the Islamic world is useful, but it is not essential, as background readings will be provided. A basic understanding of theoretical approaches to International Relations, especially security studies, is also helpful, though not strictly necessary. None of these elements should deter interested students from attending.
Reading list
Association in the course directory
RP-3
WM-3
WM-14
WM-19
WM-3
WM-14
WM-19
Last modified: Th 02.04.2026 12:26
Since 9/11, the term jihad has become ubiquitous in Western media, political discourse, and security practices. Frequently interpreted through security lenses, debates surrounding jihad have generated both valuable scholarly insights and persistent stereotypes. While these discussions have at times encouraged dialogue between the Islamic world and the West, they have also contributed to deep misunderstandings and entrenched barriers to mutual comprehension. Despite the sustained attention the concept has received, its historical trajectory is rarely examined in depth.
This course offers a critical compass for navigating contemporary debates on jihad by situating them within a longer historical perspective spanning more than a century. Through the study of key thinkers, pivotal events, primary texts, and biographical accounts of individuals involved in jihadi movements across diverse regions and periods, the course explores the sociocultural and political contexts that have shapedand reshapedthe meaning and practices of jihad. By tracing these transformations, the course highlights the concept’s complex and evolving nature, revealing its ethical, moral, social, cultural, and political dimensions beyond reductive or monolithic interpretations. By doing so, the course aims to provide a historical prelude to the post-9/11 era that has profoundly shaped global politics and everyday life over the past two decades.