Aysegul Kayagil

This course will explore a wide spectrum of social theories that have emerged both within and about the contemporary Levant, the Eastern Mediterranean. We will cover the history of the formation of anticolonial thought and will address the ongoing legacies and structures of coloniality in various domains in the region. Despite its regional focus, the course will also encompass a diverse array of social theories developed by scholars globally. We will be examining concepts such as settler colonialism (Wolfe), orientalism (Said) and biopower (Foucault), among others. Throughout the semester, students will not only delve into historical and theoretical texts but also engage with a diverse range of media, including podcasts, films, memoirs, and news pieces. By the end of the course, students will gain valuable insights into the development of anticolonial thought in the Levant and its connections with global theoretical paradigms. Students will be equipped with the analytical tools (such as discourse analysis, content analysis, and historical analysis) necessary to critically engage with contemporary challenges and contribute to ongoing discussions about colonial legacies, power structures, and social justice in the region and beyond. Each student will be expected to deliver a minimum of one in-class presentation, focusing on the weekly material, over the course of the semester. Conferences will be centered on research on related topics of students’ interest and writing research papers. Students will also be engaging in creative group projects throughout the semester.

How do we imagine slavery in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)? How do we make sense of the histories of slavery in understanding race in the larger region today and its interconnections beyond geographical boundaries? While contemporary critical scholarship on transatlantic slavery provides a necessary corrective to colonial narratives, this course proposes to go further by bringing in voices, histories, and experiences from predominantly the Middle East and North Africa region. Drawing on a long sociohistorical arc inclusive of a wide range of localities such as Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, and Iran, this course offers an enriched understanding of constructions and legacies of slavery, as well as our conceptions of race as they play out in the current moment. The course is divided into three parts: Part I begins by establishing the theoretical and epistemological foundations of racial formation theory, as well as historiography. It will set the stage for an in-depth discussion on how theory informs our analyses of race and slavery in MENA. In Part II, we will develop an overview of race and the history of slavery in the region by examining racialized and gendered experiences, practices, and textual formation. Finally, in Part III, we will focus on case studies dealing with historical legacies and present-day practices of race in modern nation-states. Through an elaboration of myriad contemporary connections, the course will open up possibilities of generating more complex and nuanced historiographies that go beyond current understanding of such a phenomenon. For conference, students can look at cases both within and outside the region. Other possibilities for conference work include certain thematic areas such as language, gender, media constructions, use of religion, and contemporary politics.

By covering both “classical” and “contemporary” sociological theories, this course is designed to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of sociological thought and its evolution. The main objective of the course is to introduce theoretical perspectives within sociology and how those theories have shaped the boundaries of the discipline. We will begin by exploring the concept of “sociological imagination.” Building upon that preliminary understanding, we will examine certain core sociological concepts such as class, race, gender, culture, power, institutions, and identity. While recognizing the lasting impact of sociology’s pioneering theorists—Durkheim, Weber, and Marx—we will also explore approaches that critically engage and problematize aspects of the “canon.” Our examination extends to encompass contemporary perspectives, including feminist theory, postcolonial theory, and race critical theories. Incorporating these contemporary sociological approaches, we will gain multifaceted insights into the complex interplay between sociological constructs and broader societal contexts. As the course draws to a close, students are expected to leave with a deeper appreciation of the complexity of society and the expanded array of theories through which it can be examined. Group conferences will be centered on research on related topics of students’ interest, as well as engaging in creative group projects.