19-101 THE ARAB SPRING (AN UPDATED REPEAT)
Sandy McNabb, Mondays 10 am - 12 noon
Sonoran Room, January 7, 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11
In 2011, the Middle East was rocked by revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Syria. Dictators who had ruled for decades were toppled by peaceful protests. Then in 2014, a savage Jihadist group, ISIS, declared the Islamic Caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
This course will provide a framework for understanding these events. Participants first look at Islam, including the differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Next, the January 25th Revolution in Egypt: why did people go to the streets and what has been the results five years later. Then the discussion will turn to the monarchies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait) and ask how they escaped the turmoil of the Arab Spring. In Syria, the question of why a civil war broke out and why Syria became the breeding ground for ISIS will be explored. Finally, the class will investigate ISIS: who they are, what are their objectives, and why are they attracting so many young Muslims.
ILR At SaddleBrooke