FYS 55 Diversity and Secularism in the Middle East
Much is said about religious discord in Middle East. Some argue that inter-religious strife in the region is a consequence of the failure of secular democracy to take root in the region, while others pin the blame on a general “Islamic intolerance” towards other faiths. However, others attribute religious conflict to factors such as legacy of colonialism and its imposition of modern liberal governance. This class is an inquiry into these arguments. Accordingly, we will examine the region’s historical experience with: religious tolerance, minority status, sectarian identity, secularism and the emergence of modern democratic forms of governance.