This course explores the historical, political, social and cultural aspects of the evolution of Islam in Central Asia from the 8th century CE to the present. It investigates the reasons and mechanisms of Islam's expansion in the region as well as its dynamic interactions with local religious traditions and ways of life. Rather than reducing Islam to a homogenous, static, and dogmatic creed, the course analyses diverse Muslim identities and practices across time and space, and how different communities of believers have adapted Islam's common patterns and denominators to survive in the frequently challenging environment.
The course applies historical, anthropological, and political science perspectives to provide insights into Islam's common framework, and the complexity and fluidity of Central Asian religious identities within this framework. By the end of the semester, students should be able to appreciate how sixty million Muslims in Central Asia follow their faith in terms of ritual, intellectual discourse, politics, and daily life.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- acquire expertise in the doctrines, rituals, customs, and artistic representations of diverse Muslim communities in Central Asia;
- discern common patterns and localised variants within the political, social, and legal framework of Islam;
- develop a critical and nuanced view of religion at loggerheads with the Orientalist and essentialist portrayal of Islam as a homogenous, stagnant, and universally threatening entity; and
- present analytical findings on a topic related to Islam in Central Asia in a cogent manner.
Indicative Assessment
- 5,000-word essay (60) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- 3-hour examination (40) [LO 1,2,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 24 hours of seminars; and b) 106 hours of online activities, practice exercises, readings and assessment, over 12 weeks.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
The course uses an electronic reading brick.
Preliminary Reading
Lyudmila Polonskaya and Alexei Malashenko, Islam in Central Asia. Reading: Ithaca Press, 1994.
Maria Elisabeth Louw, Everyday Islam in post-Soviet Central Asia. London; New York: Routledge, 2007.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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