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SYLLABUS POLITICAL SCIENCE 393: The Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs Spring Semester 2008, 7-9:40 p.m. Thursdays Hardy Tower 140 (Unless otherwise Noted)
In the Name of God: Religion in Ethnic Conflict, Genocide and Terrorism
Ronald J. Bee, Instructor Director, Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs Office: 114 Nasatir Hall Phone: 619-594-6944; email rbee@mail.sdsu.edu Office Hours: Wednesdays 3-4 pm, Thursday 5-7 p.m., or by appointment
Background and Course Overview: Since 1942, the Institute on World Affairs has served SDSU as an upper division class in the political science department, as a community forum and distinguished lecture series, and as a commitment to the improvement of our collective understanding of world affairs. Following that fine tradition, in 2008 we will explore through readings and lectures the role of religion in ethnic conflict, genocide and terrorism. Religion has served as a great source of solace to the multitude of peoples on the globe, yet at the same time it has proven a fountainhead of bigotry, intolerance, conflict, and carnage. This class and lecture series will examine this complex relationship from various perspectives.
Religion in the hands of charismatic leaders can and often does become a tool of political mobilization. History is full of examples of its use to advance certain ideologies, sometimes to force the society to address the issues of injustice, and at other times, to justify ethnic conflict, genocide and terrorism. After the events of September 11, 2001, “religion” has again taken center stage, but the complex chain of global interdependencies did not make our understanding of the term any easier, but certainly more urgent. We will read, listen, and question the range of opinions surrounding the issue of how and why religion can either offer solace and peace to its followers or facilitate death and destruction to its victims. Each week, guest speakers from the academic and policy worlds will complement readings to help provide clarity. The premise behind this course will take you toward a better modern day understanding of the issues, challenges, and choices surrounding religion in ethnic conflict, genocide, and terrorism.
Our local academic and San Diego communities will join us is this exploration. In a real sense, each and every one of you will represent SDSU as ambassadors to our learned guests and esteemed fellow citizens. Please keep this in mind at all times, and make us proud!
Readings: You will read from two books and selected articles on blackboard each week. The articles will prepare you for that week’s lecture, and when possible, will come from the speakers themselves. I will place required articles online at blackboard.sdsu.edu, as well as speaker bios when they become available. The readings will help you participate intelligently in the question and answer period. Moreover, careful study of these materials will prepare you for the midterm, 5-page policy memo, and final exam that will, along with your mandatory attendance, measure your performance in this class. The required texts:
1. Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. Third Edition, University of California Press, 2003.
2. Jessica Stern, Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill, HarperCollins, 2003.
An optional book for those interested in the background and context of Ambassador Charles W. Hostler, whose name honors and heads the Institute on World Affairs:
1. Charles W. Hostler, Soldier to Ambassador, From the D-Day Normandy Landing to the Persian Gulf War, SDSU Press, 2003.
Course Requirements and Grading:
1. Mandatory Attendance/Participation -- The lectures make this class. Therefore, if you miss class more than once during the semester, your letter grade will drop by one full grade for each lecture you miss. You will need to check in with your red ID before each lecture, starting on February 1. When sick or otherwise incapacitated, you will require proof of illness or unusual circumstances, and preferably before you miss class. 2. Take-Home Midterm (25% of your grade) – The take-home midterm will require writing short essays on the readings, complete with citations, that cover the definitional issues, the initial lectures, and the background and context of globalization. The take-home exam will be handed out in class on February 21 and due on February 28, 2008. 3. 5-Page Policy Memo on Religion and Ethnic Conflict, Genocide, and Terrorism (25% of your grade) – For more on the memo, see below. Due Date: April 24, 2008. Final Exam (50% of your grade), covering readings and lectures, and the entire course. Date: May 10, 2008
To succeed, you must master the readings from the assigned books and articles on blackboard (www.blackboard.sdsu.edu ), think critically and participate in class, learn to express your views effectively on a topic regarding religion and ethnic conflict, genocide, and terrorism, in a policy memo format, and do well on the midterm and final exams (multiple choice, fill-in, and essay format).
The Policy Memo: As a deputy to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, you must prepare a position paper on a pressing issue relating directly to religion in ethnic conflict, genocide, or terrorism. You should write the memo in clear, persuasive, and succinct prose, have a title that indicates your view, adopt a school of thought as your approach, acknowledge at least two other approaches, and recommend a course of action. Your memo should have four separate but related sections: I. Background and Context of the problem (How did we get here?); II. Stakes for American foreign policy (Why should we care, economically, politically, and militarily?); III. Options for resolving the problem or issue (What should we do? You must provide at least three different options, assessing each); and IV. Your specific Recommendation, based on your analysis delivered in sections I-III (What do you think we should do, and why?). What you argue will remain less important that how you argue it. I will provide a sample list of topics in class and on blackboard.
COURSE EVENTS AND READINGS
January 24: Ronald Bee, Director, Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs, Introduction and Overview
January 31: Dipak Gupta, San Diego State University, “In Our Own Image: Religion in the Context of Political Action”
Readings: 1. Jessica Stern, Terror in the Name of God, Introduction and pages 1-8; 2. Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God, Chapters 1 “Terror and God,” and Chapter 2: “Soldiers for Christ,” pp. 1-44; Dipak Gupta, power point presentation (Document #1)
February 7: Benjamin Ajak, International Rescue Committee and Lost Boy of Sudan, “When Religion Fills Refugee Camps”
Readings: 1. World Fact Book on Sudan https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.html (Blackboard Document #2); Kelly Campbell, “Negotiating Peace in Darfur,” January 2008; http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0110_darfur.html (Blackboard Document #3); The International Rescue Committee in San Diego: http://www.theirc.org/where/us_san_diego/the_irc_in_san_diego.html
February 14: David Rapoport, UCLA, “Religion and Modern Terrorism”
Readings: 1. David Rapoport, “The Four Waves of Modern Terrorism” (Blackboard Document #4); 2. Jessica Stern, Terror in the Name of God, Grievances that Give Rise to Holy War, Chapters 1 and 2: “Alienation” and “Humiliation,” pp. 9-62; 3. Juergensemeyer, Terror in the Mind of God, Chapter 3 “Zion Betrayed” and Chapter 4 “Islam’s Neglected Duty”, pp. 45-84.
February 18: Monday Afternoon Lecture 4:00-6:00 pm in Nasatir Hall 100: Mohhamed Hafez, University of Kansas, “Suicide Bombers in Iraq” Co-sponsored with the Center for Arabic and Islamic Studies.
February 21: Afternoon Lecture Time and Place TBA: John Rielly, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, “The U.S. and France: A New Beginning? Co-Sponsored with the ISCOR Student Society
February 21: Peter Balakian, Colgate University, “Lessons of the Armenian Genocide,”
Readings: 1. Peter Balakian, The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and the American Response, Preface (Blackboard Document #5).
TAKE-HOME MIDTERM PASSED OUT
February 28: Lawrence Baron, San Diego State University, “Christianities of Complicity and Compassion: Religious Reasons for Persecuting and Protecting Jews During the Holocaust”
Readings: TBA and posted on Blackboard.
TAKE-HOME MIDTERM DUE
March 3: Monday Afternoon Lecture 4:00-6:00 pm in Nasatir Hall 100: Richard English, Queens University, London, “For God and Ireland: Religion, Terrorism and Nationalism in Modern Ireland”
March 6: Mohammed Hafez, "Martyrs without Borders: The Puzzle of Foreign Suicide Bombers in Iraq"
March 13: Partha Gosh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India “The Limits of Religious Politics in India”
Readings: 1. Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God, Chapter 5, “The Sword of Sikhism,” pp. 85-102.
March 20: Chris Soper, Pepperdine University, “Muslims in Europe: Singing God’s Song in a Strange Land.”
Readings: 1. Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God, Chapter 9 “Martyrs and Demons,” pp. 167-189; 2. Jessica Stern, Terror in the Name of God, Chapters 5, 6, and 7: “Territory”, “Inspirational Leaders and Their Followers,” and “Lone Wolf Avengers”.
March 26: Wednesday Afternoon Lecture: Sir Eldon Griffiths and the Honorable Amedee Turner, “Islam and Democracy” North Education Building 060, 4-6 pm
March 27: TBA
April 3: Spring Break – No Lecture
April 10: His Excellency Mahmud Ali Durrani, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United States
April 17: His Excellency Dr. Naser-al- Belooshi, Ambassador of The Kingdom of Bahrain
April 24: Ahmet Kuru, San Diego State University, “Islam and the Secular State: Turkey between French and American Models”
Readings: TBA
POLICY MEMO DUE
May 1: Azim Khamisa, Tariq Khamisa Foundation, and Brian Loveman, San Diego State Un April 12: Pranab Bardhan, UC Berkeley, “Globalization and Global Poverty”
Readings: 1. The Tariq Khamisa Foundation http://www.tkf.org/story/storyhistory.htm
May 8: Roundtable Discussion: William Headley, Dean, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, USD; Rebecca Moore, Religious Studies, San Diego State University; Kaleel Mohammed, Religious Studies, San Diego State University
Readings: 1. Jessica Stern, Terror in the Name of God, Chapters 8, 9, and 10: “Commanders and their Cadres,” “The Ultimate Organization: Networks, Franchises, and Freelancers,” and “Conclusion/Policy Recommendations”; 2. Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God, Chapters 10 and 11: “Warriors’ Power” and “The Mind of God”.
May 15: Final Exam: 7:00 p.m.
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