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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International Politics
The idea that resolving <strong>the</strong> Israeli-Palestinian
conflict might lead to a breakthrough in overall
Muslim-<strong>West</strong> relations is not universally shared.
At <strong>the</strong> January 2007 <strong>Annual</strong> Meeting of <strong>the</strong>
World Economic Forum, IsraeliForeign
Minister Tzipi Livni expressed her scepticism.
“Since our establishment we have been on <strong>the</strong>
frontlines of a conflict that many perceive to
be a major flashpoint between <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>
<strong>West</strong>,” she noted. “Some believe – mistakenly
in my view – that resolving this conflict is <strong>the</strong>
key to restoring harmony between <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong>
<strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>.” She pointed instead to deeper
problems, in particular <strong>the</strong> struggle between
Muslim moderates <strong>and</strong> extremists. In her view,
<strong>the</strong> latter were exploiting <strong>the</strong> Israeli-Palestinian
conflict to mobilize <strong>the</strong>ir supporters. The core
political issue, Livni insisted, was <strong>the</strong> willingness
of Israel’s neighbours to respect its right to
exist within secure borders.
Whatever its centrality to broader Muslim-<strong>West</strong>
relations, <strong>the</strong> Israeli-Palestinian conflict remained
high on <strong>the</strong> international agenda through 2007.
In November 2007, <strong>the</strong> Bush Administration
convened <strong>the</strong> Annapolis Conference, during
which both parties agreed in a joint statement
to “immediately launch good faith, bilateral
negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty
resolving all outst<strong>and</strong>ing issues, including core
issues, without exception.” The discussions
<strong>and</strong> potential negotiations that ensue into 2008
will shed new light on <strong>the</strong> interrelationship
between <strong>the</strong> Israeli-Palestinian conflict in
particular, <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>-<strong>Islam</strong>ic relations in general.
International politics is a critical framework for
Muslim-<strong>West</strong> dialogue. None of <strong>the</strong> major issues
of 2006-2007 – <strong>the</strong> challenge of terrorism, <strong>the</strong>
war in Iraq, US-Iranian relations <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Israeli-
Palestinian conflict – pitted a monolithic <strong>West</strong>
against a uniform Muslim world. The economic
<strong>and</strong> security interests of states, not <strong>the</strong> clash
of entire religions, cultures, or civilizations, remain
<strong>the</strong> main fault lines in world affairs in <strong>the</strong> Middle
East <strong>and</strong> elsewhere. Concerns about national
sovereignty, political stability <strong>and</strong> access to oil –
<strong>the</strong> lifeblood of <strong>the</strong> world economy – inform
<strong>the</strong> major conflicts explored here.
At <strong>the</strong> same time, geopolitical <strong>and</strong> territorial
conflicts are shaped by religious <strong>and</strong> cultural
identities. In 2006-2007, widespread anxiety
about <strong>Islam</strong>ic extremism <strong>and</strong> considerable
antipathy toward <strong>the</strong> United States <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>
characterized public opinion. Media analysis
featured in this report both reinforced – <strong>and</strong>
were reinforced by – international political
conflicts. Against a backdrop of war, violence
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> clash of interests, dialogue within <strong>and</strong>
across national contexts necessarily has a
limited global impact.
Despite its limitations, dialogue has <strong>the</strong>
potential to foster underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> trust,
change domestic political dynamics <strong>and</strong> build
political support for peaceful collaboration
across a multiple issue areas. The balance of
this report explores dialogue efforts outside of
–butnotunaffectedby–geopolitical
contexts, where <strong>the</strong> challenges <strong>and</strong>
opportunities are different.