PSYC 238: Culture and Psychology of Arab-Muslim
Societies
Spring, 2015
Prof. Gregg
This course provides an introduction
to Arab-Muslim societies and cultures.
It draws on readings from multiple disciplines to cover social structure
and family organization in tribal, village, and urban communities, core value
systems associated with the etiquettes of honor-and-modesty and with the
beliefs and practices of Islam, and influences on psychological development
through the life-span. It also will
examine the processes of “modernization” and “underdevelopment,” the conflict
between Westernization and authentic “tradition,” the “Islamic revival,”
the crisis of identity experienced by youth, and the "Arab Spring" revolutions and their aftermath.
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Assignments
Three 3-4 page“key concept” papers and a research project investigating a topic of interest. Grades will be based 50% on the “key concept”
papers, 40% on the final project, and 10% on class participation.
Core
N. Mahfouz, Palace Walk
G. Gregg, The
Kapucinski, Shah of Shahs
H. Munson, Islam and Revolution in the
Other readings will
be available via electronic reserve
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Syllabus
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Section I |
Social Structure &
Values |
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Topic |
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Wk 1 Tues.
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Introduction |
Gregg, The
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| Wk 1 Thur. | Social Structure | Mahfouz, Palace
Walk Ch.1-6
Gregg, The Middle
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Wk 2 Tues.
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Family
Life |
Gregg, The Middle East Ch 3 (honor)
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Wk 2 Thur.
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Gender
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Mahfouz, Palace
Walk
Schneider, “Of Vigilance & Virgins” Mernissi, Beyond the Veil (excerpt)
Shalinsky, “Reasons, Desire and Sexuality”
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Wk 3 Tues.
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Gender
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El Saadawi, "Circumcision of Girls in Egypt" Boddy, Wombs and Alien Spirits (excerpt) Gole, Forbidden Modern (excerpt)
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Wk 3 Fri.
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Paper: key concepts |
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Section II |
Islam and Islamism |
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Wk 3 Thur..
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Islam |
Mahfouz, Palace Walk, Ch. 23-27 Antoun, Muslim Preacher in the Modern World pp. 75-89 and 106-119
Gregg,
The Middle |
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Wk 4 Tues.
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Islam |
Mahfouz, Palace Walk
Nelson,
Art of Reciting the Quran (excerpt)
Schimmel, And Mohammed Is His Messenger (excerpt)
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Wk 4 Thurs.
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Underdevelopment |
Mahfouz, Palace
Walk
Sharabi, Neopatriarchy, selections
Kapucinski, Shah of Shahs pp. 17-52 |
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Wk 5 Tues.
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Islamism |
Mahfouz, Palace
Walk
Munson, Islam and Revolution in the
Kapucinski, Shah of Shahs pp. 103-120
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| Wk 5 Thur. | Islamism | Mahfouz, Palace
Walk
Kepel, Muslim Extremism in
Hage, "Comes a Time..."
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Wk 6 Tues.
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Terrorism |
Bergan, "Nonsense about Terrorism" NYT: "Fit for ISIS" |
| Wk 6 Wed. | Key concepts: Islam and Islamism | |
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Section III |
Life-Span Development
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Wk 6 Thur.
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Infancy and Early Childhood
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Gregg, The Middle
East Intro to Part II,
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Wk 7 Tues.
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Child Development
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Gregg, The Middle
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Wk 7 Thur.
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Adolescence |
Gregg, The Middle
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| Wk 8 Tues. | Early adulthood & identity | Mahfouz, Palace Walk
Gregg, The Middle East Ch. 8 & 9 |
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Section IV |
"Modernization" and "Arab Spring" |
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| Wk 8 Thurs.. | "Modernization"
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Mahfouz, Palace Walk
LeVine, Heavy Metal Islam (selections) UNDP: Arab Human Development Report (excerpts)
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| Wk. 9 Mon. | Key concepts: Life-Span Development | |
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Wk. 9 Tues.
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"Modernization" |
El Feki, Sex in the Citadel, Intro, Ch. 1, 3, 6 Khalaf, "Breaking the Silence" |
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Wk. 9 Thurs.
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"Arab Spring" |
Bayat, Life as Politics, Ch. 1, 7 Dabashi, The Arab Spring, Preface |
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Wk. 10 Tues.
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"Arab Spring" |
Cole, The New Arabs, Preface, Ch. 1, 3, 5 Agha & Malley, "The Arab Counter-revolution" |
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Wk 10 Thur.
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"Arab Spring" |
TBA |
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Final
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TBA |
TBA |