Take Home Essay #1 Topic --due by Exam 1 -- 20 points
Write a 2 page typed (double or 1 1/2 space) paper addressing the following:
Give examples of Muslim scienific and technological superiority in the 10th through 14th centuries (be sure to give examples from Overbye AND the Islam Empire of Faith clips). Discuss three theories on the collapse of Muslim power and the rise of European power. With which do you agree the most?
Take-home essay #2 Topic (due by Exam 2) -- 25 points
Write a 2-3 page typed (double or 1 1/2 space) paper addressing the following:
Contrast the role of Islam in Turkey, Iran and Iraq (especially pre-invasion Iraq). Be sure to discuss the current trend in Turkish politics. Compare the mosque-state relationships in these countries with the separation of church & state in the US. Can any country based on one religion truly be a democracy? Explain.
Don't forget about your other papers in the syllabus: The Journal Assignment & the MidEast Peace Paper
Journal Assignment in the syllabus
Middle East Peace paper -- due near the end of the semester ; 45 points; 4-5 pages
Part 1: Based on the Slater & Economist articles (below), discuss the three biggest issues that the peace talks will have to deal with. Discuss the proposals made on those issues in both the 2000 Camp David and the 2001 Taba negotiations.
Part 2: Make a recommendation for these three issues you discussed in part1. In your opinion, what would be the best way to resolve the three issues you discussed (be specific)? Which side would DISLIKE your recommendations the most? How would you get that side to agree to a deal?
Articles to read for this assignment
Jerome Slater: What Went Wrong: The Collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process. The Political Science Quartlerly, Volume 116; 2002.
The Economist wrote a good summary of the Taba talks
Go here for more more information on the Middle East Peace Process
The US-backed Roadmap to Peace and the Geneva Accords (a.k.a. the unofficial peace plan) may be helpful in your analysis.
Possible Future topics: Ignore what's below this
Discuss key episodes in the history of Western-Islamic clashes up through Colonialism.
1. Compare previous examples of Western intervention (such as the Crusades and Colonialism) in the Middle East with the current US involvement in Iraq. How do you think these past actions affect the trust of US intentions today. Be sure to give examples and include the following: crusades, colonialsm, Sikes-Picot .
2. Give examples of Muslim scienific and technological superiority in the 10th through 14th centuries (be sure to give examples from Overbye and/or the Islam film). Discuss three theories on the collapse of Muslim power and the rise of European power. With which do you agree the most?
Many in favor of invading Iraq argued that we could not deal with Saddam in any humane, rational way. Roesler, on the other hand, argues that Saddam, while ruthless, was quite rational. In what way was Saddam rational in not cooperating with the weapons inspectors? Given the 2003 invasion after weapons inspectors found no WMDs, would the sanctions really have been lifted if he cooperated? Read this quote from President G.H.W. Bush. Do you think President G.W. Bush acted in the US's rational self-interest in invading Iraq in 2003?
Final Exam Take home essay: 1-2 pages (20 points) -- due at the final
Give Christian, Jewish and Muslim examples of justifying policies on religious grounds. What is the problem with viewing one’s policies in religious terms (be sure to give examples from videos such as 60 Minutes: Zion’s Christian Soldiers)? Is the Israeli-Palestinian problem primarily one of religion? If not, what are the key issues? Is a clash of civilizations inevitable? Explain.