Universität Wien

240153 VO+UE VM3 / VM1 - The Politics of Religion, Islam and the Muslim minorities in Europe (2025S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Mo 19.05. 11:30-14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

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).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first two meetings will be held online with the help of the BigBlueButton webinar tool integrated in Moodle.

  • Monday 10.03. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 24.03. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 07.04. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 05.05. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 02.06. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 23.06. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course will engage with contemporary debates on religion and politics in Europe. On the one hand, anti-terrorism and security concerns push European nations to compromise the religious liberties of Muslims and to restrict the practice of Islam in the public space. On the other hand, European countries seek to regulate, institutionalize and give representation to (i.e. ‘Europeanize’) Islam and to facilitate the socioeconomic integration of Muslim minorities. At the same time, the public visibility of Islam has rekindled discussions concerning the nature and content of European secularism, unintentionally giving rise to secular populist movements and Islamophobia. Using Austria, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, as case studies, this course will frame this paradox that the European nations face. The course language is English.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance, active participation in class discussions, group presentation of a selected reading, a reading and writing assignment, and written final assignment.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

¾ attendance, active participation in class discussions, 1 group presentation, 1 reading and writing assignment, written final assignment
Active Participation 10%, (group)presentation 20%, reading and writing assignment 25%, written final assignment 45%
Marking system:
90-100 (1)
79-89 (2)
63-78 (3)
50-62 (4)

Examination topics

There are no exams in this course, just a reading and writing assignment and a final paper

Reading list

In the beginning of the semester, the course readings will be posted on the learning platform Moodle. The readings will be expanded according to the thematic needs of the participants. Here are some of the readings:
• Cesari, J. (2014) (ed) The Oxford Handbook of European Islam, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Bayrakli, E., Hafez, F. and Faytre, L. (2018) "Engineering a European Islam: An Analysis of Attempts to Domesticate European Muslims in Austria, France and Germany," Insight Turkey 20(3): 131-156.
• Sezgin, Z. (2019) “Islam and Muslim Minorities in Austria: Historical Context and Current Challenges of Integration,” in: S. Hackett and I. Malik (eds.) Muslims in Western Europe: Contemporary Debates in Historical Perspective, London & New York: Bloomsbury.

Association in the course directory

VM3/VM1

Last modified: Fr 07.03.2025 13:26