Society and Politics of North Africa (original) (raw)

This is a five-week two-credit course to be conducted in Morocco. The goal of the course is to provide a thorough introduction to North African societies and politics. The Maghrib (the “farthest west” in Arabic)—encompassing Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya—has historically been a critical frontier zone linking Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. This cross-roads region continues to remain strategically important with sub-Saharan and North African migration, political Islam, terrorism/counter-terrorism, the Sahara question, Islam-West relations, and Mediterranean trade relationships among the current pressing international concerns related to the Maghrib. The course will meet ca. five days a week (in classroom or on field trips), with each week exploring a prominent theme related to North African society and politics, including an overview of Maghrib history, the legacies of colonialism and nationalism, political systems and opposition, Islam in North Africa, and the Maghrib in the 21st century. To maximize the opportunity of being taught on site in the region, the course’s subject matter will be interwoven with multiple field trips, including visits to the four historic imperial cities of Morocco (Fes, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech). It will also immerse students through meetings with local experts, interaction with Moroccan university students, and optional home stays with Moroccan families.