Muslims and non-Muslims: The “other” as a source of cultural and religious knowledge/ threat

The purpose of this project is to identify, discuss and analyse in Islamic literary, historical and/ or religious sources depictions of and references to various forms of relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims. The project will ideally focus on a specific context of such relations, and examine the form of discourse it involves, and the extent to which the "other" are depicted as a source of cultural and religious knowledge on the one hand, and a threat on the other. Such contexts might include societies where Muslims are/ were in power, such as Muslim Spain, as well as cases in which Muslims live as a minority, e.g. China.

This project will aim at:
(a) focusing on a specific context;
(b) identifying types of discourse and relationship;
(c) analysing such relationship, using historical, literary and religious sources;
(d) assessing the relationship’s structure and factors that have formed and influenced it.

For the purpose of a PhD dissertation, it is likely that only one such a context should be analysed.

The research would entail analysis of Islamic sources; for which purpose a good Knowledge of the Arabic language and a relevant academic background in the field of the designated project, preferably a degree in Arabic Language and Literature and/ or Islamic Studies, are essential.