Political systems for the Arabian Peninsula States (POL 534)

 

The Arab Political System

  

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Course-specific skills: Include abilities to understand the nature and evolution of core concepts regarding  political system of Islam, analyze and explain the nature of traditional institutions in Islam and the new bureaucracy  of the Islamic states. Analyze selected policy theories, Ideas, concepts, and institutions, and how Islamic policy outcomes reflect political forces.

Discipline-specific skills: skills include critical thinking, analysis of arguments, writing analytical essays, presenting coherent arguments about concepts covered in the course.

Personal and key skills: Include the ability to construct arguments, evaluate ideas and debates and to present written material in a coherent manner.

Teaching method:

The course is taught by weekly lectures and seminars. Lectures present the theoretical framework, key concepts and debates and help guide your reading. Seminars consist of presentations and group discussion focused on questions raised by students. This study is continuous throughout the course and should take at least three hours a week.

Assessment:

Two one-hour examinations                   50%

Class participation                                    10%

Final examination                                      40%

Syllabus Plan:

This course is divided into three sections:

Section one: The State bases in the Islamic political system.

The evolution of the state in Islam

The headship of the Islamic state

The Presidency conditions in the Islamic state

The election of the president in the Islamic state

Section Two: Study of Islamic Concepts

The Governorship in Islam

The Shura

The Justice and equality

The Freedom in Islam

The Khilafa (Succession)

Human rights in Islam

The Jihad (the holy war)

The Bai’ah to the Khalifa (allegiance)

Section Three: The Concept and the source of sovereignty in Islam

The Ummah (people) is the source of power in the Islamic state

The sovereignty of the Islamic law (Shari’ah)

The separation of power in Islam

The legality of the viceroyship

The Islamic attitude towards the predominance

 

Saudi Foreign Policy (POL 450)