Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue

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<strong>West</strong>-Muslim Dialogue : A Critical Challenge
Lord Carey of Clifton
Lord Carey was <strong>the</strong> 103 rd Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, having previously served as Bishop of
Bath <strong>and</strong> Wells <strong>and</strong> Principal of Trinity Theological College. He serves on <strong>the</strong> Foundation Board of <strong>the</strong> World
Economic Forum <strong>and</strong> is Co-Chair of <strong>the</strong> Forum’s Community of <strong>West</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Islam</strong> Dialogue (C-100).
The relationship between <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Muslim world is a critical dynamic of our time. The factors creating tension,
doubt <strong>and</strong> misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing are many <strong>and</strong> varied, as are those who would exploit <strong>the</strong>m. Yet, <strong>the</strong>re is nothing inevitable
about this state of affairs. All our au<strong>the</strong>ntic religious traditions uphold <strong>the</strong> value of peace. History has shown it is quite
possible to live with a diversity of cultures <strong>and</strong> religions <strong>and</strong> that societies can be enriched ra<strong>the</strong>r than threatened as a result.
Today, peace <strong>and</strong> stability are critical for <strong>the</strong> economic growth <strong>and</strong> opportunity necessary to meet human needs in a
sustainable fashion on a global scale. It is quite clear that we face real challenges. Harmony requires work! Fortunately,
people, organizations <strong>and</strong> governments around <strong>the</strong> world are addressing tensions at <strong>the</strong> intersection of <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>
<strong>West</strong> through dialogue <strong>and</strong> collaboration directed at concrete policy problems.
Until now we have not had a full or adequate picture of <strong>the</strong>se efforts, of what is working, <strong>and</strong> what is not. This makes
this annual report on <strong>the</strong> state of dialogue so timely. It will serve as a vital resource for leaders from government, business
<strong>and</strong> civil society working to build coalitions across cultural <strong>and</strong> religious divides to address concrete problems.
The Community of <strong>West</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Islam</strong> Dialogue of <strong>the</strong> World Economic Forum involves leading figures, from government
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> media as well as business, academic <strong>and</strong> religious leaders – all critical partners in ongoing dialogue efforts.
This report is <strong>the</strong> first of a series sponsored by <strong>the</strong> Forum that will chart dialogue activities <strong>and</strong> explore best practices
across a range of issue areas, including international politics, citizenship, ethics <strong>and</strong> ideology, education <strong>and</strong>
development.
If we are to achieve results adequate to this challenge, <strong>the</strong> dialogue needs to reach all sectors <strong>and</strong> every age group in
our societies. By providing an overview of <strong>the</strong> an overview of <strong>the</strong> terrain, this report will help to disseminate knowledge
essential to building new partnerships <strong>and</strong> exploring new areas for collaboration at <strong>the</strong> intersection of <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>.
The fact that <strong>the</strong> current work has engaged multiple partners <strong>and</strong> sources of input, led by Georgetown University, is
important. This reflects <strong>the</strong> unique capacity of <strong>the</strong> World Economic Forum to bring people <strong>and</strong> knowledge toge<strong>the</strong>r for
<strong>the</strong> achievement of insights that can frame <strong>the</strong> future global agenda. This also reflects <strong>the</strong> need of <strong>the</strong> business
community for accurate information upon which to base its engagement.
It is a strength of <strong>the</strong> Forum to involve business in multi-sector partnerships that bring about real change. But for this
to happen will require knowledge of <strong>the</strong> key facts <strong>and</strong> what is effective. Every organization has to know how <strong>and</strong>
where it can make a real difference if it is to justify <strong>the</strong> effort involved. We have to know not only how things are, but
also what must change <strong>and</strong> who needs to be reached for that change to occur.
This is where <strong>the</strong> partnership with <strong>the</strong> Gallup Organization has been so important in helping to assess <strong>and</strong> chart key
attitudes, as is <strong>the</strong> input from Media Tenor International in bringing out how <strong>the</strong> media has played a role in shaping
key perceptions.
We all share a common humanity. We must build upon this commonality even as we better underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> address
our real differences. The affirmation <strong>and</strong> realization of universal human principles is a challenge that goes beyond
Muslim-<strong>West</strong> relations to encompass <strong>the</strong> state of <strong>the</strong> world as a whole.
<strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>: <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on <strong>the</strong> State of Dialogue Introduction
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