The Lang course tackles, in a historical perspective, notions of power within Muslim majority societies of the Middle East. The focus will be placed on the Arab worlds, with occasional references to Turkey and Iran. In the vein of historical sociology, the course engages with theories of empire and state-formation in the region and their incorporation into the world system. The course will offer an in-depth comprehension of evolving forms of domination and claims over conflicting religious and secular legitimacy from the 19th century (solidification of positive law; nascent capitalism; new forms of legal-rational authorities) to the 21st century (revolutionary waves of 2011/2019; global cultural consumptions). The course will explore various arguments that stress forms of power and domination specific to the region as opposed to the lasting impact of external forms of domination over the region, including conflicts of the last two decades.