Islam and Muslims: Politics and Perceptions in the West

In this course we will explore constructions of “the Muslim” in “the West” by discussing the following topics: the history of Muslim migration to the West; portrayals of Muslims by Western writers and media; Muslim's voices about their place in Western societies; the extent of anti-Muslim sentiments throughout the West; and contemporary political conflicts such as those surrounding the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands, the Danish cartoon controversy, and the banning of veils in France. 3 hrs. sem./disc. 3 hrs. sem./disc.