IR478 Islam in World Politics
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Mirsad Karić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to introduce students to the basic principles, core beliefs, and foundational teachings of Islam as they relate to its role in world politics, while familiarizing them with the objectives (maqasid) of Shariah and their relevance to governance. It seeks to develop students’ understanding of key historical and contemporary debates surrounding Islam, secularism, democracy, and state authority, and to enable them to apply Islamic political concepts to the analysis of political developments in Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities worldwide. The course also encourages critical evaluation of the relationship between Islamic norms, democratic governance, and modern constitutional frameworks.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas, (1993). Islam and Secularism, Kuala Lumpur: Art Printing Works. Manochehr Dorraj (1999). Islam, Governance, and Democracy, in Middle East and North Africa: Governance, Democratization, Human Rights. P. Magnarella, (ed.), London: Avebury Press, pp. 11-36. Tauseef Ahmad Parray (2012). "Islamic Democracy” or Democracy in Islam: Some Key Operational Democratic Concepts and Notion, World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, 2 (2): 66-86. Tavkhelidze, T. (2021). Historical Origins of European Islamophobia: The Nexus of Islamist Terrorism, Colonialism and the Holy Wars Reconsidered. Journal of the Contemporary Study of Islam, 2(2), 142-162. Todd H. Green. (2015). The Fear of Islam: An Introduction to Islamophobia in the West. Fortress Press: Minneapolis. Najib, K., & Hopkins, P. (2020). Where does Islamophobia take place and who is involved? Reflections from Paris and London. Social & Cultural Geography, 21(4), 458–478. Al-Farsi, K. (2022). Exploring Sharia Law in Islamic Jurisprudence. Social Science Chronicle, 2(1), pp. 1-20. Esposito, John. (2012). Political Islam and the West. Joint Force Quarterly. Spring 2000, 49-55. Catherine Fieschi, Muslims and the secular city: How right-wing populists shape the French debate over Islam, February 28, 2020. Laurence, J. (2005). From the Élysée Salon to the Table of the Republic: State-Islam Relations and the Integration of Muslims in France. French Politics, Culture & Society, 23(1), 37–64. Maillard, Dominique. 2010. “The Muslims in France and the French Model of Integration.” Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (in Asia) 4 (4): 1–24. Ihab Shabana, (2024) Between Political Arena and the Mosque: Islamist Governance in Egypt and Tunisia after the 2011 Arab Uprisings, Journal of the Catholic Social Thought, Number 28, 258-277. Alsoos, Imad & Dihstelhoff, Julius. (2024). Ennahda’s Muslim democracy in post-Arab spring Tunisia: Synthesizing political thought and practice. Filozofija i drustvo. 35. 515-536. James Jeffrey, How Trump Can Finish the Job in Iran-and the Middle East, Foreign Affairs, July 4, 2025. Robert A. Pape, Why Escalation Favors Iran, Foreign Affairs, March 9, 2026. Jocelyne Cesari, The Securitisation of Islam in Europe, CHALLENGE RESEARCH PAPER NO. 14/APRIL 2009. Cole Bunzel, Gaza and Global Jihad: Why the Hamas-Israel War Is Unlikely to Revive ISIS and al-Qaeda, Foreign Affairs, November 2, 2023. Audrey K. Cronin (2015), SIS Is Not a Terrorist Group: Why Counterterrorism Won’t Stop the Latest Jihadist Threat, Foreign Affairs, 94(2), 87-98. Lorenzo Vidino, The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West, Columbia University Press, New York, 2010. Ozturk, A. E. (2021). Islam and Foreign Policy: Turkey’s Ambivalent Religious Soft Power in the Authoritarian Turn. Religions, 12(1), 38. Hikmet Karčić, Ferid Dautović and Ermin Sinanović (eds.), The Muslim Resolutions: Bosniak Responses the World War Two Atrocities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dobra Knjiga: Sarajevo, 2021.
Additional Literature
Peter Mandaville, Islam and Politics, (3rd ed.), London: Routledge, 2020. Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Shari‘ah Law: An Introduction, Oxford: A Oneworld Publications, 2008. Nurullah Ardıc, Islam and the Politics of Secularism: The Caliphate and Middle Eastern Modernization in the Early 20th Century, London: Routledge, 2012. Abdur Rashid Siddiqui, Shariah: A Divine Code of Life, Leicester: The Islamic Foundation, 2018. Jackson, Sherman A., The Islamic Secular, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 34(2), pp. 1-31. Khaled Abou El-Fadl, Islam and the Challenge of Democracy, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2004. Perry, Glenn E., Popular Sovereignty, Islam, and Democracy, American Journal of Islam and Society, 41(1), pp. 193–209. Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Political Islam and Foreign Policy in Europe and the United States, Foreign Policy Analysis, 3(3), pp. 345–367.Teaching Methods
Lecture
Presentations
Video material
Homework/projects
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | No Reading |
| 2 | Islam-Basic Principles and Teachings | Al-Attas |
| 3 | Islam-Basic Principles and Teachings_cont | Al-Attas |
| 4 | Democracy, Human Rights and Islam | Dorraj; Parray |
| 5 | Islamophobia | Green; Tavkhelidze; Najib & Hopkins; al-Farsi. |
| 6 | Islam and Politics in Europe | Esposito; Fieschi. |
| 7 | Islam and Politics in Europe_cont | Laurence; Dominique. |
| 8 | Mid-term exam | No reading |
| 9 | Islam and Politics in the Midle-East | Shabana; Alsoos and Dihstelhoff; Jeffrey |
| 10 | Jihad and Islam | Cesari; Bunzel; Cronin. |
| 11 | Islamic Political Movements | Vidino; Ozturk. |
| 12 | Islamic Political Movements_cont | Vidino; Ozturk. |
| 13 | Bosnian Muslims' Resolutions | Karčić, Dautović and Sinanović |
| 14 | Presentations | No reading |
| 15 | Presentations | No reading |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR478.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.11 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 17:00 | A F1.7 | |
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 13:00 | A F1.7 | |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 13:00 | A F1.7 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Student Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Presentations
13 hours ⏳ (13 week × 1 h)
Individual Learning
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Midterm
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Final Exam
18 hours ⏳ (1 week × 18 h)
Homework
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR478] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR478 | Islam in World Politics | 3 | 0 | 6 | Tuesday 09:00-11:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mirsad Karić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-17:00 Tuesday: 12:00-13:00 Thursday: 12:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| mkaric@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to introduce students to the basic principles, core beliefs, and foundational teachings of Islam as they relate to its role in world politics, while familiarizing them with the objectives (maqasid) of Shariah and their relevance to governance. It seeks to develop students’ understanding of key historical and contemporary debates surrounding Islam, secularism, democracy, and state authority, and to enable them to apply Islamic political concepts to the analysis of political developments in Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities worldwide. The course also encourages critical evaluation of the relationship between Islamic norms, democratic governance, and modern constitutional frameworks. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas, (1993). Islam and Secularism, Kuala Lumpur: Art Printing Works. Manochehr Dorraj (1999). Islam, Governance, and Democracy, in Middle East and North Africa: Governance, Democratization, Human Rights. P. Magnarella, (ed.), London: Avebury Press, pp. 11-36. Tauseef Ahmad Parray (2012). "Islamic Democracy” or Democracy in Islam: Some Key Operational Democratic Concepts and Notion, World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, 2 (2): 66-86. Tavkhelidze, T. (2021). Historical Origins of European Islamophobia: The Nexus of Islamist Terrorism, Colonialism and the Holy Wars Reconsidered. Journal of the Contemporary Study of Islam, 2(2), 142-162. Todd H. Green. (2015). The Fear of Islam: An Introduction to Islamophobia in the West. Fortress Press: Minneapolis. Najib, K., & Hopkins, P. (2020). Where does Islamophobia take place and who is involved? Reflections from Paris and London. Social & Cultural Geography, 21(4), 458–478. Al-Farsi, K. (2022). Exploring Sharia Law in Islamic Jurisprudence. Social Science Chronicle, 2(1), pp. 1-20. Esposito, John. (2012). Political Islam and the West. Joint Force Quarterly. Spring 2000, 49-55. Catherine Fieschi, Muslims and the secular city: How right-wing populists shape the French debate over Islam, February 28, 2020. Laurence, J. (2005). From the Élysée Salon to the Table of the Republic: State-Islam Relations and the Integration of Muslims in France. French Politics, Culture & Society, 23(1), 37–64. Maillard, Dominique. 2010. “The Muslims in France and the French Model of Integration.” Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (in Asia) 4 (4): 1–24. Ihab Shabana, (2024) Between Political Arena and the Mosque: Islamist Governance in Egypt and Tunisia after the 2011 Arab Uprisings, Journal of the Catholic Social Thought, Number 28, 258-277. Alsoos, Imad & Dihstelhoff, Julius. (2024). Ennahda’s Muslim democracy in post-Arab spring Tunisia: Synthesizing political thought and practice. Filozofija i drustvo. 35. 515-536. James Jeffrey, How Trump Can Finish the Job in Iran-and the Middle East, Foreign Affairs, July 4, 2025. Robert A. Pape, Why Escalation Favors Iran, Foreign Affairs, March 9, 2026. Jocelyne Cesari, The Securitisation of Islam in Europe, CHALLENGE RESEARCH PAPER NO. 14/APRIL 2009. Cole Bunzel, Gaza and Global Jihad: Why the Hamas-Israel War Is Unlikely to Revive ISIS and al-Qaeda, Foreign Affairs, November 2, 2023. Audrey K. Cronin (2015), SIS Is Not a Terrorist Group: Why Counterterrorism Won’t Stop the Latest Jihadist Threat, Foreign Affairs, 94(2), 87-98. Lorenzo Vidino, The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West, Columbia University Press, New York, 2010. Ozturk, A. E. (2021). Islam and Foreign Policy: Turkey’s Ambivalent Religious Soft Power in the Authoritarian Turn. Religions, 12(1), 38. Hikmet Karčić, Ferid Dautović and Ermin Sinanović (eds.), The Muslim Resolutions: Bosniak Responses the World War Two Atrocities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dobra Knjiga: Sarajevo, 2021. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lecture, presentations, video material, homework/projects | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | No Reading | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Islam-Basic Principles and Teachings | Al-Attas | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Islam-Basic Principles and Teachings_cont | Al-Attas | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Democracy, Human Rights and Islam | Dorraj; Parray | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Islamophobia | Green; Tavkhelidze; Najib & Hopkins; al-Farsi. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Islam and Politics in Europe | Esposito; Fieschi. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Islam and Politics in Europe_cont | Laurence; Dominique. | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term exam | No reading | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Islam and Politics in the Midle-East | Shabana; Alsoos and Dihstelhoff; Jeffrey | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Jihad and Islam | Cesari; Bunzel; Cronin. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Islamic Political Movements | Vidino; Ozturk. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Islamic Political Movements_cont | Vidino; Ozturk. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Bosnian Muslims' Resolutions | Karčić, Dautović and Sinanović | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Presentations | No reading | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Presentations | No reading | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 20 | LO1-LO5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm | 1 | 30 | LO1-LO5 | Not Allowed | |
| Student Presentation | 2 | 30 | LO1-LO5 | Not Allowed | |
| Project | 1 | 20 | LO1-LO6 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Presentations | 1 | 13 | 13 | |||
| Individual Learning | 3 | 14 | 42 | Midterm | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Final Exam | 18 | 1 | 18 | Homework | 15 | 1 | 15 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||