Islam in the West

Date : Sat., May 02, 2015 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Category : Butcher History Institute

A Workshop for Teachers

Sponsored By

The Program in Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University

The Madeleine and W.W. Keen Butcher History Institute  at the Foreign Policy Research Institute

Saturday, May 2, 2014; 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Princeton University, Frist Campus Center, Multi-Purpose Room (MPR A), Princeton, NJ 08544
 
Islam in the West. The recent attacks in France by Islamists, who were French nationals, have accentuated a long-standing debate about Islam in Europe, and in the West more broadly. This workshop placed in historical and comparative perspective the current debate over immigration and integration, with particular attention to the differences among countries and between Europe and the United States.  It also explored the differences between Islam – a religion, and Islamism – a political ideology; the concept of national identity in a rapidly globalizing world; and finally, the growing phenomenon of foreign fighters and their return to the West.
 
This excellent one-day educational workshop was geared at secondary school teachers and community college faculty from the greater Princeton area. 
 
Watch the Full Conference Here:
 
 

Topics and Speakers

Welcoming Remarks

05/02/2015 - 08:45am

Islam and the West through the Ages: A Primer

05/02/2015 - 09:00am
Cyrus Schayegh

Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University

Director, Program in Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University

This talk outlined how Muslims encountered Europe from the 7th century onwards. One focus dealt with early encounters in Spain. A second theme was Muslim-European/Christian encounters in the Mediterranean world from the Middle Ages to the early modern period. A last focus was on the modern period, the 19th and 20th century, where both intellectual and social contacts multiplied.

Related Multimedia:

Islam and the West through the Ages: A Primer

Islam vs. Islamism

05/02/2015 - 10:30am
Samuel Helfont

Fellow - Middle East Program

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University

This lecture discussed the problematic nature of the terms Islam and Islamism. It gave a brief history of the rise of Islamism in the 20th century as a modern political ideology; compared and contrasted Islamism with the broader Islamic tradition; and discussed the repercussions the debates over these terms have for Western policies and for Muslims living in Western societies.

Related Article(s):

Islam and Islamism: A Primer for Teachers and Students

Related Multimedia:

Islam vs. Islamism

Islam and Western Europe

05/02/2015 - 12:45 PM
M’hamed Oualdi

Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Studies

Islam’s encounter with the Western Europe is a historical process that did not start with the 19th century colonization of North Africa. This talk, therefore, stressed long-standing interactions between Europeans and Muslims. It will as well raise the issue of secularism and Islam building on the French example.

Related Multimedia:

Islam and Western Europe

Islam in the United States

05/02/2015 - 02:15pm
Amaney Jamal

Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics, Princeton University

The horrific Chapel Hill incident demonstrated the ongoing and heightened predicament US Muslims face. While the US has a much better record on Muslim incorporation than Europe, there still remain significant challenges. This presentation looked at both the challenges and opportunities that have arisen in the post 9-11 environment for Muslims and Islam in America.

Related Multimedia:

Islam in the United States

Western Muslims in ISIS

05/02/2015 - 03:45pm
Cole Bunzel

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University

This talk surveyed the Western foreign fighter phenomenon in ISIS. It featured research on the recruitment and motivations of foreign fighters and presented interviews showing their testimony.

Related Multimedia:

Western Muslims in ISIS

Location

Venue

Princeton University

Frist Campus Center
Multi-Purpose Room (MPR B)
NJ Princeton 08544

Registration links

Register Deadline

Fri., April 24, 2015

WHAT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED:

  • complimentary attendance at this full-day educational workshop at Princeton University
  • complimentary continental breakfast, lunch and snacks
  • selected readings related to the lectures for personal use and use in the classroom
  • videos of the entire workshop will be posted subsequently on our website
  • subscription to E-Notes, FPRI’s weekly bulletin; and Footnotes, FPRI’s bulletin for high school teachers.
  • a certificate of participation in a program offering 7 hours of instruction for use in obtaining professional development credit provided by FPRI

For information about FPRI’s future and previous educational programs, please click here. For more information about the Princeton University Program in Near East Studies, please click here.