HPEA10111U Religious Currents in Central Asia

Islam in Central Asia is often assumed to have established cultural homogeneity to the region, and at present it is frequently associated with radical movements. The course will challenge such stereotypes by situating the history of Islam within the wider historical and political context in Central Asia. Attention will be paid to the role of Sufism, reformist movements, the persistence of religious expression in the face of political repression, and its ideological mobilization and role in identity building in contemporary Central Asian societies.