Study Development, Islam, Democracy, and Arabic in Morocco (click here for application information. ) Among the most important topics in the contemporary world are issues of development and democratization in the Islamic world, and the fostering of mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims. To enhance understanding of these issues, The Maghreb Center and Georgetown University are pleased to announce the establishment of a Summer Program in Development, Democracy, and Islamic Studies. The program will be hosted by Al Akhawayn University (AUI), an English language University modeled after the American university system located in Ifrane, Morocco. The new program offers two three-credit courses approved for direct academic credit by Georgetown University’s government department. The program is taught and supervised by their faculty. The first course, Development in Theory and Practice encapsulates the present state of the development debate. In addition, it explores the experiences of people in the Developing World whose benefits from the development debate have been at best uneven. What works in theory may not work in practice. In order to take advantage of the location of AUI students would visit development projects in Morocco. In addition, development workers practicing in Morocco will visit the classroom and share their views on the development process. The second course, Islam and Democracy, explores the Muslim approach to politics. It begins with the study of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity in comparative perspective. This is followed by an exploration of the historical bases of traditional Muslim and Christian political theory. The course also addresses the varied interpretations of Islam that include radical interpretations of the religion and interpretations that parallel Western concerns for liberal rights and democracy. The setting of this course will enrich the course immeasurably. AUI is located in Ifrane, which is 60 kilometers from the historic cities of Meknes and Fez. Its location is ideal for an exploration of religion in Morocco. Fez was the capital of Morocco for more than 400 years. Founded in 789 it is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. The historic Kairouine Mosque is located in Fez. Efforts to teach religion led to the foundation of Kairouine University, disputably the oldest University in the world. The mosque and university are surrounded by several madrassas, or Islamic schools built over the ages. In addition to the study of Sunni Orthodoxy the course explores other features of Maghribi Islam historically such as Maraboutism and Sufism. There is value added to offering a course on development in theory and practice and a course on Islam and democracy within an Arab country attempting to develop while wrestling with democratization and some interpretations of their Islamic heritage. The planned field trips to development projects, cultural and religious sites, and classroom visits from development workers, civil society activists, and local politicians add dimensions impossible to match within a classroom on an American University Campus. This program is not formally a part of the Intensive Summer Arabic program offered at Al Akhawayn University (AUI). However, the program schedule will allow interested students to arrive early and take Arabic at AUI on their own initiative. Students would simply enroll directly and pay for these classes like any U.S. student coming to the university. For further information please contact: Graham Hettlinger |