SOCIOLOGY OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

The module is a complementary activity for the second year of the Degree Course in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa. As part of the general learning of cultural and humanistic skills, it aims at providing sociological tools in order to understand some aspects and dynamics of contemporary societies in the Islamic majority countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Moving from some key issues of contemporary sociology - in particular, the concept of modernity, the social meaning of religion, conformism and deviance and gender studies -, issues such as the relationship between individual and community (adherence to the social norm and individual freedom), lived Islam (incidence of Islamic orthopraxis, religious individualism and the market of faith), and gender relations ('Islamic' sexuality, the body and its images, patriarchy and feminisms, LGBT issues) will be addressed also from a historical perspective.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
Use the conceptual and methodological tools of sociology to understand some of the mechanisms that govern Islamic societies; knowledge of the main issues relating to the individual-community relationship, lived Islam and gender issues. The basic objective is to understand the role of Islam in the social constructions of Islamic countries.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
ability to apply the tools of sociology in the autonomous interpretation of different aspects of Islamic societies.

3. Judging ability:
ability to critically and consciously evaluate some dynamics of Islamic societies.

4. Communication skills:
Ability to illustrate the different aspects dealt with in the course in a clear and analytical way.

5. Learning skills:
Ability to critically integrate the documents provided by the teacher and the notes taken in class.

No prerequisites are required to attend the course

Introduction to the themes and methodological tools of sociology, examination of some phenomena of Islamic societies: Islamic practices, individual freedom and social control, the social use of religion, the market of Islam, Islamic sexuality, the body and its images, patriarchy, feminisms, LGBT issues.

Bibliography and handouts will be provided during the classes and uploaded on the moodle platform.
Compulsory
Barbara De Poli, I musulmani nel terzomillennio, Carocci 2007

Suggested preparatory readings
Lucia De Martis, Tutto sociologia, DeAgostini, 2010.

The exam will consist of a paper of max 20,000-25.000 characters to be agreed with the teacher. More details on the paper will be provided during the course.
The paper will be aimed at verifying the learning of the topics dealt with during the course, as well as verifying the student's critical and autonomous analysis skills.
Students must study the documents uploaded on the moodle page of the course and the chapters of the textbook indicated both in the handouts and in the course summary (see moodle).

Lectures supported by power-point, commented readings and video materials.

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development