[ccebook.cn]The World in 2010

Asia
How to let Islam and the West live in harmony
Nov 13th 2009
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, president of Indonesia, sees tolerance-building as a central task of the
21st century
Bambang Yudhoyono
The big question for 2010—and the whole century—is whether the world’s civilisations, religions and cultures
will finally depart from their persistent patterns of conflict. Some predict that the rift between “Islam and the
West” will widen and that a clash of civilisations is unavoidable.
Despite globalisation and technology, I predict a steady rise of religiosity worldwide. The politics of identity—
locally, nationally, regionally—will become more prevalent.
But this will be against a backdrop of multiculturalism and tolerance. People all over the world are beginning
to realise that co-operation yields dividends not only within civilisations but also between and among them.
Racism is on the decline, and apartheid is gone. The number of countries adhering to religious freedom and
the portion of global citizens living under open, pluralistic societies are at their highest ever.
At the start of the last century, there were only a handful of democracies; today there are 89 free
democracies. In the Muslim world, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference has committed its members to
promoting democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and good governance.
Indeed, non-Western civilisations have begun their march to modernity. In this process, peoples of various
religions and cultures have found renewed confidence, seeing others as partners rather than as a threat.
Global challenges—from climate change to terrorism—are providing new imperatives to transcend civilisational
differences.
But these encouraging trends must vie with the negatives. Bigotry, intolerance and ignorance are still rife.
Polls show that the perception gap between civilisations—particularly between Islam and the West—remains
worryingly wide.
There is no single remedy for this, but let me offer a few. First, the world’s leaders must strengthen in 2010
the various dialogues already taking place, such as the UN Dialogue Among Civilisations, the recent Saudi
initiative of an Interfaith Conference, and the Global Inter-Media Dialogue (launched by Indonesia after the
crisis following cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad).
Second, these efforts must reach deeper to the grassroots. Even in the most modern societies, ignorance
about other religions is commonplace. In some Western countries, Islam is the fastest-growing religion—and
-60-