Off the Beaten Course: POL S 562

Off the Beaten Course is a series that delves into SDSU's course catalog to share unique and non-traditional classes.

Course title: Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective
Professor’s name: Ahmet Kuru

Ahmet Kuru is an associate professor of political science at San Diego State University. His research interests include comparative politics, religion and Islamic and Middle Eastern studies.

1) What inspired you to create this course?

Comparative methods are the best way to understand social and political phenomena. Religions should also be analyzed comparatively in order to avoid prejudices and to go beyond stereotypes. I am using this approach in both my teaching and research. My book, "Secularism and State Policies toward Religion: The United States, France, and Turkey," compares religion and politics in Protestant-majority United States, Catholic-majority France, and Muslim-majority Turkey. This was my main source of inspiration to create this course.

2) What can students expect to learn from this course?

Students can expect to learn how religion and politics interact in a complex manner that generally influence and transform both of them.

Since 9/11, there has been an overemphasis on the role of religion over politics in Muslim-majority countries, as if everything happening in Muslim politics is a result of Islam. The readings and discussions in this course are designed to show the sophisticated interaction in the Muslim world.

Islam matters, but there are various other socio-political and economic factors that shape politics in Muslim-majority countries. Interpretations of Islam itself are also affected by these factors.

3) What makes this course different from similar courses?

Two main characteristics of the course. It reveals the importance of religion, politics, and their interaction to understand our world. It also stresses similarities between Islam and Christianity when it comes to their relations with politics.

4) Is there one day on the syllabus for this course you most look forward to? If yes, why?

Each day in the syllabus is important and exciting.

5) What’s your favorite thing about teaching this course?

I like to explain Middle Eastern and European cases by bringing similarities from the United States. Because students are already familiar with the American example, such similarities help them understand the Middle East and Europe.

6) Any other thoughts?

When I first constructed this course I was not sure whether sufficient number of students would take it. So far it has been popular. There are always more students willing to take than the class size allows.