Universität Wien
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210128 SE M10 b: Culture and Politics (2016S)

M10b:SpezialisierungsSE(b) Anti-Muslim/islamophobic political discourses and images in Europe and the United States

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work

Seminars

Registration during the registration period via univis is mandatory. Later registration is NOT possible.

Attendance is mandatory on the first day of class. Students who miss the first lesson unexcused will lose their places to wait-listed students.
Moodle

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. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 07.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 14.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 04.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 11.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 18.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 25.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 02.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 09.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 23.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 30.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 06.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 13.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 20.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 27.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Recent political developments, such as the advance of globalization, subsequent increased international mobility and migration of larger groups of people, as well as the climate of fear generated by recent terrorist attacks in Europe and reaffirmed by the resounding media presence of the Jihadist fighters for an Islamic State in the Near East, have fueled anti-Muslim/islamophobic stereotypes as well as corresponding attitudes. Islamophobic rhetoric mingles religion, politics and national or ethnic identity: Islam is depicted as an intrinsically violent ideology that tends to produce political extremism. Such discourses construct an artificial but apparently clear distinction between modern "Western" and backward "Islamic" values in order to suggest that Islam has hardly anything in common with "enlightened" Western societies. In order to merge threat scenarios, integration issues, religious affiliation and cultural identity, a metaphorical chain is built which contributes to a strategy of exclusion. By means of both language and imagery the idea of an antagonism as a matter of principle, is conveyed.
Against this background the seminar zooms in on the details of the political and media debate on Islam and Muslims, and exemplarily tracks their representation in discourse and imagery. It suggests a multi-method approach to allow for a more differentiated view of increasing anti-Muslim/islamophobic stances and politics as a trans-national current political phenomenon.

Seminar structure:
> Topical introduction (course instructor);
> Discussion of relevant seminal texts/ compulsory reading;
> Oral presentation and subsequent discussion of students preliminary research papers

Assessment and permitted materials

Grading will be based on partial performances:
> Regular participation (2 unexcused absences are tolerated) - 10%
> 2 written comments on selected compulsory reading - 20%
> Oral presentation of chosen seminar topic (handout mandatory, visualization optional, group work optional) -20%
> Written seminar paper (appr. 12-15 pages) - 50%

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

> Regular attendance;
> Active participation (plenary discussions and in class group work);
> Written comments on selected mandatory reading
> Oral presentation of students preliminary research papers (list of seminar topics will be provided, students can choose from the list, introduction of additional topics is most welcome);
> Seminar paper (can be written either in English or German language);

Examination topics

> Compulsory reading tbd in class (group work and plenary discussions)
> Seminar paper and presentation of preliminary research findings

Reading list

Preliminary list:

Allen, C. (2011): Islamophobia. Ashgate Burlington-London.
Botsch, G./ Glöckner, O./ Kopke, C./ Spieker. M (2012): Islamophobie und Antisemitismus. Ein umstrittener Vergleich. Walter de Gruyter Berlin.
Esposito, J./ Kalin, I. (eds.) (2011): Islamophobia: The Challenge of Pluralism in the 21st Century. Oxford University Press.
Gottschalk, P. (2012). Religion Out of Place: Islam and cults as perceived threats in the United States. In Gershon S./ Meade, E./ Aceves. W.J. (eds.): Lessons and Legacies of the War on Terror: From Moral Panic to Permanent War. Critical Terrorism Studies. Routledge. 111-112.
Gottschalk, P./ Greenberg, G. (2007): Islamophobia: Making Muslims the Enemy. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Lanham.
Greaves, R. (2004): Islam and the West Post 9/11. Ashgate. Burlington-London.
Hafez, F. (2013): Islamophobe Weltverschwörungstheorien… und wie Obama vom Muslim zum Muslimbruder wurde. In: Journal für Psychologie,.Jg. 21 (2013), 1.
Hafez, F. (2014): Shifting borders: Islamophobia as common ground for building pan-European right-wing unity. In: Patterns of Prejudice 48:5. 479-499.
Lean N.C. (2012): The Islamophobia Industry: How the Right Manufactures Fear of Muslims,. Goodreads.
Lean, N. C. (2014): Islamophobia in the United States: A Case of the Three 'I's. In: Oxford Islamic Studies Online. http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/Public/focus.html.
Mourao-Permoser, J./ Rosenberger, S./ Stoeckl, K., 2013: (2010): Religious Organizations as Political Actors in the Context of Migration: Islam and Orthodoxy in Austria, in: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Vol. 36(9). 1463-1481.
Oswald, D. L. (2005): Understanding Anti-Arab Reactions Post-9/11: The Role of Threats, Social Categories, and Personal Ideologies". Journal of Applied Social Psychology 35 (9): 1775-1799.
Saeed, A. (2007): Media, Racism and Islamophobia: The Representation of Islam and Muslims in the Media. Sociology Compass 1/2. 443-462.
Taras, R. (2012): Xenophobia and Islamophobia in Europe. Edinburgh University Press.

For additional literature and more details concerning compulsory and optional reading see Moodle

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:38