At FDU: Dr. Azly Rahman

Prof. A. Rahman aar26@columbia.edu
COURSES TAUGHT:
1. Introduction to Political Science
2. Geography and World Issues
3. International Problems and Conflict Resolution
4. Effective Teaching, Effective Schools
5. Colonialism, Imperialism, Dependency
6. Cross Cultural Perspectives
7. The Global Challenge
8 Clinical Teaching Internship I and II
9. Teaching Strategies for the Diverse Classroom
10. Teacher as Researcher and Educational Leader
11. Foundations of Western Civilization
12. The West and the Modern World
13. Middle East I
14. United States History
15. World History
16. Masters Seminar
17. Final Project: Applied Research
18. Thinking Skills
19. Ethics
20. Foreign Policy
21. Forces and Issues in the Middle East.
22. Islamic Scriptures
23 Religions of the World

Dr. Azly Rahman

Adjunct Professor, School of History and Political Studies, School of Education, and University CORE Program

COLONIALISM, IMPERIALISM, DEPENDENCY (HIST 7724) SYLLABUS (Fall 2003/04)

“The Project for the New American Century is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to a few fundamental propositions: that American leadership is good both for America and for the world; that such leadership requires military strength, diplomatic energy and commitment to moral principle; and that too few political leaders today are making the case for global leadership.” —William Kristol, Project Chairman

INTRODUCTION In this graduate course in history, we will explore the phenomena of colonialism, dependency, and imperialism as what can be called a “structuring experience” in world history and politics. The theme of inquiry, or the object of our study is to read, discuss, and reflect upon the fundamental nature of these concepts and how they shape our understanding of international affairs: From the colonization strategies of the traditional rulers to the nature of hegemony in international affairs. In other words, we will explore how ideologies are inscribed and installed onto the landscape of humanity and how they become ideological state apparatuses, institutions, and tools of imperialism. While the logical sequence of our exploration will be that of periodization, i.e. moving chronologically, we will maintain the phenomenological perspective to the subject matter, i.e. to look at the colonialism, imperialism, and dependency as a process and a paradigm (Wallerstein, Gunder Frank, Galtung).

COURSE DESCRIPTION Through the explorations of the concepts and in-depth discussions of the topics, we will acquire an understanding of the phenomena from the point of view of a social scientist generally, and a “postmodern flaneur,” specifically. While the former requires us to ground our understanding from the perspective of a scientist, the latter invites us to see things from kaleidoscopic, and constructivist points of view. It entails critical reflection to understand what the Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci calls the hegemonic forces of the modern world and to look at this world of international affairs and the march of historical progress from the point of view of what the Russian thinker, Mikhail Bakhtin calls “carnival”. The exploration of this study will be transdisciplinary; we will look at the philosophical, political, and psychological dimensions of the phenomena (Memmi, Sartre, Fanon) . Our readings will hence reflect these multidisciplinary considerations. We will begin at the level of perspectives and theories (From World Systems Theory to Complexity Theory) and proceed to the analyses of cases and specific practices of colonialism, imperialism, and dependency and conclude with a larger picture of the phenomena of “empire.” Thus, for example, we may relate the idea of a Babylonian Empire of antiquity with that of the American empire five thousand years later at the beginning of this century ( documented in texts such as “The New American Century”) [http://www.newamericancentury.org/].

CONCEPTS AND SKILLS We will acquire the skills of analyzing the genealogy of concepts (Foucoult) related to this course, their evolution, transmutation, and finally the manner they take shape—all these within the context of the interplay between technology and culture that helps build systems of control and historical progress. These are the skills critical to our understanding of the world we live in specifically and to that of becoming a social scientist and a postmodern flaneur. The study of colonialism, imperialism, and dependency requires us to “step outside of the field” adopt a “metaphysical view of human affairs” and perhaps, as the French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre said, to be an “existentialist” and objectify reality, so that we may hopefully be able to subjectify it and act upon it. We will begin our inquiry with a historical perspective of the phenomena (i. e. the what and when of colonialism, imperialism, and dependency) and progress to the historical-material perspective (the interplay between technology, culture and consciousness). Guided by inquiry themes, the class is expected to engage in constant critical discussions and reflections and to acquire a taste for phenomenologically systematic analysis of the key concepts of colonialism, imperialism, and dependency.

Links of interest:

theory of history (from the anthropologist herve varenne)
survey of useful economic theories
critique of colonialism and imperialism

Email address: azly_rahman@fdu.edu