Minorities in the Middle East and North Africa

Catalog description

In today's society that explores Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), one ought to ponder the challenges that Arab societies might have and the progress made to celebrate and achieve DEI among its minority groups. Some of the questions that this course addresses are whether a minority in Arab societies is defined by number or status; the autocratic governments' use of identity politics to serve their own interests; the role of education, social norms, and media in approaching issues of skin colors and minorities' rights; and the historical changes that have shaped citizenship and belonging. This course aims to enrich students' understanding of the diversity of minority groups of other religions (Muslims, Christians, Jews), sects (Sunni and Shi'a), ethnicities (Copts, Nubians, Kurds), Palestinians, LGBTQ, and women. It employs several elements such as the impact of colonialism, Pan-Arabism, socio-economy, and cultural norms in order to help students contextualize the status of minority groups through readings, films/documentaries, music, and data collected via surveys and virtual sessions with students in Arab countries.