Islam, linked with the Arab world, as well as forming a very important part of our history and culture, also represents a reality which is increasingly present in our societies. Islam, Muslims and news related with countries that have a majority Muslim population are the focus of a large part of the information and debates which appear every day in the media and on social networks. Frequently tied to topics involving immigration, refugees and conflicts, this information tends to be delivered with a great deal of generalization, stereotypes and misunderstandings.

In order to contribute to better knowledge about the diverse realities which make up Islam and the Muslim population today, the complexity of dynamics and transformations which the Islamic world is living at present, and its past and present relationships with Spain, the Diplomatic School and Casa Árabe have decided to resume organization of the course “Islam and Muslims Today: Foundations, diversity and dynamics of change. This will be the ninth edition of the course.

In a somewhat shorter form, concentrating strictly on the topics of Islam and Muslims, the course will be structured around three major sets of themes, containing an initial unit dealing with religious foundations, cultural diversity and the relationship between religion and political power in Islam; a second unit devoted to the various Islamist movements, their presence and political participation in local, national and transnational contexts, and a third unit about Islam in Europe throughout history and at the present time, with a special emphasis on relations between Spain and the Arab-Muslim world, in its many different forms.

Course format and location
A course lasting 14 days, with two 75-minute classes every day and a total of 32.5 class hours in all. The classes will be given on Mondays through Thursdays at the Diplomatic School (Paseo de Juan XXIII, 5 (Metro: Vicente Aleixandre). The official opening on May 6 will also be held at the Diplomatic School, and the round table discussion bringing the course to an end will take place on May 29 at the Casa Árabe headquarters in Madrid (at Calle Alcalá, 62).

The course is free of charge after successfully completing the selection process.

Candidates
In principle, the course is intended for diplomats and personnel from the foreign service, as part of their ongoing training programs, as well as trade technicians and civil servants who work for Spain’s central government. A certain number of spaces will also be reserved for professionals from other levels of government who, in carrying out their work, come into contact with nationals from countries with Arab-Muslim cultures (autonomous regional and local) and Muslim communities. If any vacancies remain open, the possibility of allowing others to attend the course may be considered, including students, researchers and members of academia interested in the subject matter of the course.

Application requirements
The deadline for applying to attend the course is April 8. To do so, you must send an e-mail message to the Diplomatic School (at: escuela.cursos@maec.es) with a summarized one-page CV/resume and a brief letter consisting of no more than ten lines, explaining your interest in the course. In the “subject” line, you must enter: “Solicitud participación Curso Islam.”

The list of admitted candidates will be published on the Diplomatic School website on April 22. To make sure they can enroll, the selected candidates must send confirmation that they are interested and ensure their regular attendance in the course, using the e-mail address provided above, by Friday, April 26. Otherwise, the places of any accepted candidates who have not confirmed by April 29 will be re-assigned in accordance with the waiting list order.

Course program