United States and the Islamic world
SINCE 11 September, 2001, popularly known as 9/11, there has been a growing interest in the United States in trying to understand the existing dynamics within the Islamic world. Before that date US policy makers and think tanks displayed some interest in the evolving peace process in the Middle East and the question of finding an acceptable solution to the Palestinian problem, but that was marginal compared to their careful monitoring of economic and trade potentials in the energy-rich member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
This limited approach changed not only with the breaking out of war in Afghanistan and the unilateral engagement in Iraq but also with the emergence of Iran as a regional power. This expanded the areas of interaction and broadened the US function within the matrix of international relations with countries with substantial Muslim populations.
It is this awareness that has led the United States to establish a dialogue with key leaders in the field of politics, business, media, academia and civil society from across the Muslim world. The Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, Washington, the Asia Foundation and the Georgetown University, Washington have been particularly involved in this process of arriving at a positive commitment.
The stakeholders within this equation meet as a Forum in Doha, Qatar every year. This has provided a platform to address several critical issues dividing the United States and countries with large Muslim populations. This Forum, within its format, tries to address the factors that affect perception in the Islamic world about US initiatives.
Today, within the USA and in many other developed countries, there is a belief that a link exists between Islam and terrorism. Despite having 8 million Muslims within its borders, and Islam being the fastest growing religion in the United States, general people over there have demonstrated their bias and suspicion about Islam and Muslims through their speculation about Democratic presidential candidate Obama. This situation deteriorated sufficiently to persuade former secretary of state Colin Powell, a Republican, to reprimand those (within his Party) who were associated with such negative publicity.
While endorsing Obama, Powell according to the BBC, pointedly remarked: "He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian, he's always been a Christian, but the right answer is, What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is 'No,' that's not America." I believe that this courageous assertion by Powell has added to the image of the United States within the Islamic world.
Over the past few years one thing has become very clear. It is undeniable that there are several challenges facing the relationship between the USA and the Muslim world. It is also accepted that we can arrive at satisfactory solutions on the basis of dialogue and consultation. In a manner of speaking, this reminds me of English poet John Milton's observation in Aeropagetica that "discussion is knowledge in the making." It is significant that the Brookings Project is attempting just that. It is becoming a prime mover in reducing mis-communication.
The USA, Canada and the European Union have traditionally reached out towards meaningful discussion only with countries situated around the Mediterranean rim. This focus on weighted West Asian participation unfortunately excluded interaction with Muslim countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia, two regions with a combined Muslim population nearing 900 million. This, over time, created a serious handicap in approaching issues and finding solutions from a holistic viewpoint.
As such, it was indeed a pleasure to be invited recently to participate and moderate one of the many sessions at the US-Islamic World Regional Forum convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organised by Brookings and supported by the Asia Foundation and the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies, it opened with an interesting keynote address by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.
His statement appreciated the ongoing dialogue but also drew attention to comments made by certain cynics that such "dialogues are held to deflect attention from the continuing problems in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories."
Participated by eminent scholars and civil society activists from the USA, Egypt, Jordan. Qatar the UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Pakistan and myself from Bangladesh, the Conference address interesting issues associated with security, socio-economic development, the need to expand the opportunity of secular education within a Muslim environment and also the important role of the media in finding solutions.
Participants candidly discussed about religion and politics, understanding the role of religion within the environment of Southeast and South Asia, the impact of religion on governance, the complex facets related to development and reform in Muslim society, trade and investment and the factors associated with human development and social change. The discussions were held in a friendly and open atmosphere (normally missing in dialogues that have religion as an ingredient). As a result, many agreed to disagree on certain aspects. However, least common denominators were identified for moving the process forward in an effective manner.
It was clear from the presentation of papers and views expressed by the Muslim scholars, journalists and civil society activists that there was a nagging worry about some of the "sweeping negative imaging in parts of the West" about Muslims and the alleged absence of human rights, gender discrimination, backwardness, extremism and poor governance. The Malaysians for their part, and me, on behalf of Bangladesh, pointed out that both in Southeast Asia as well as in South Asia, significant progress had been achieved in promoting equal opportunities for different communities, gender empowerment through extension of micro-credit and promoting informal education.
All these steps, it was underlined, were helping in the growth of a participatory democratic process. Participants were able to share views, exchange ideas, clarify questions and discuss issues through frank dialogue. This was important not only in fostering goodwill between the USA and representatives from South and Southeast Asia but also in sharing of information within the two regions as regards their respective Islamic identities.
The challenge that the Brookings Project on US Relations with the Islamic World faces in the future is the giving of concrete substance to some of the innovative ideas that were proposed during the course of the plenaries and task forces in this Forum.
It has been a good idea to convene such a meeting in Southeast Asia. However, it would be important for this process to convene a similar Forum in South Asia. There have been important developments in the past few years and, according to some, greater Middle East now includes parts of South Asia. There are more than 500 million Muslims within the South Asian framework that stretches from Afghanistan to Bangladesh.
There have also been significant changes in the political governance structure in some of these countries. There is also the presence of more than eight million expatriate Muslims from this region in the work force of Gulf Cooperation Council countries. From that point of view, it would make sense to open the doors and windows of constructive engagement between this region and the United States.
The organisers have apparently decided that in the next few months, the Project on US Relations with the Islamic world will be launching a brand new website entitled The Doha Network. We hope it will become an online platform for continued dialogue and networking, publication of reports, multimedia and outreach.
It would also be useful for Brookings to establish contact with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and to interface with this Institution. This could then be the vehicle for subsequent association with Muslim countries in Africa. Expansion of the framework will help to pioneer understanding and remove mutual suspicion.
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