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

<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
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Introduction
Box 1.3
The State of <strong>West</strong>-<strong>Islam</strong>ic Dialogue
HRH Princess Lolowah Alfaisal
HRH Princess Lolowah Alfaisal is Vice Chairman of <strong>the</strong> Board of Trustees <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> General Supervisor of Effat
College, Saudi Arabia. She is Co-Chair of <strong>the</strong> Forum’s Community of <strong>West</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Islam</strong> Dialogue (C-100).
There is no nation in <strong>the</strong> world today, regardless of its level of advancement, which is homogeneous. Everywhere we find
social groups made up of people of different backgrounds; a vast variety of languages, cultures, ethnicities, socioeconomic
classes, races <strong>and</strong> religions.
People from diverse backgrounds do not lead separate lives. They are part of social groups that interact in complex
ways in culture <strong>and</strong> society <strong>and</strong> in economic <strong>and</strong> political life.
The rapid increase of Muslim populations in many countries around <strong>the</strong> world, especially in Europe <strong>and</strong> North America,
have created great interest in better underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> addressing current tensions between <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>.
With this in mind, <strong>the</strong> 100 leaders of <strong>the</strong> Community of <strong>West</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Islam</strong> Dialogue of <strong>the</strong> World Economic Forum (C-100)
have in recent years sought to promote basic human values as a starting point for creating mutual underst<strong>and</strong>ing,
tolerance <strong>and</strong> respect.
The promise of a world of peace <strong>and</strong> prosperity will depend as much on our norms <strong>and</strong> principles as upon formal rules
<strong>and</strong> institutions. Universal principles inform basic ideals of universal bro<strong>the</strong>rhood <strong>and</strong> compassion for all humankind,
<strong>and</strong> are expressed at <strong>the</strong> core of <strong>the</strong> great world religions. Of <strong>the</strong> verses that emphasize <strong>the</strong>se principles in <strong>the</strong> Qur’an,
this is <strong>the</strong> most well known:
“O mankind! We have created you as male <strong>and</strong> female, <strong>and</strong> made you into nations <strong>and</strong> tribes, that you may know one
ano<strong>the</strong>r. Verily, <strong>the</strong> most honorable of you with Allâh is he who is most pious. Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
Our differences, this critical verse suggests, can be a catalyst for learning, cooperation, <strong>and</strong> respect – not a cause for
strife. Only in this spirit of mutual respect can human beings effectively apply universal principles to specific problems
<strong>and</strong> challenges. Nowhere is this spirit more important than at <strong>the</strong> intersection of <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>.
To give one concrete example of <strong>the</strong> magnitude of <strong>the</strong> change: a vital area for Muslim-<strong>West</strong> engagement is <strong>the</strong> protection
of <strong>the</strong> natural environment. Sustainable economic development can solidify bonds of cooperation across <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Muslim world. Efforts to preserve natural resources <strong>and</strong> share new technologies will help to sustain balanced
global economic growth, prosperity <strong>and</strong> opportunity into <strong>the</strong> future.
This report aims to overcome some, but not all, of <strong>the</strong> conceptual <strong>and</strong> methodological problems that plague discussions
of <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>. Who represents <strong>Islam</strong>, Judaism <strong>and</strong> Christianity? How can neutral language capture <strong>the</strong> dynamics
of interreligious <strong>and</strong> intercultural underst<strong>and</strong>ing?
The report provides some useful, if necessarily contested, definitional markers. Its efforts to track, record <strong>and</strong> systematically
analyse stakeholders, programmes, <strong>and</strong> events is of course incomplete. But it marks a first, serious effort to map Muslim-
<strong>West</strong> interaction across a range of issue areas.
With this annual report, <strong>the</strong> World Economic Forum <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> C-100 hope to make a vital contribution to intercultural
dialogue <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing in years to come. The report will not shy away from critical <strong>and</strong> controversial areas at <strong>the</strong>
intersection of <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>, even as it explores <strong>and</strong> maps new areas for collaboration around concrete policy
challenges <strong>and</strong> sparks reflection on how shared human values can promote peace <strong>and</strong> justice in practice.