• Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World Forum
• Notable Press Quotes About The U.S. Islamic World Forum
• About the Brookings Project on U.S. Policy Towards the Islamic World
• Media List
• 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum Proceedings

About The U.S.-Islamic World Forum

One of the greatest challenges in global politics today is the dangerous tension growing between the United States and the world's Muslim states and communities. Relations between the world's community of 1.4 billion Muslim believers and the world's leading state power are at a historic low point, to the benefit of neither. This deepening divide is not just tragic, but is also a critical impediment to cooperation on a breadth of vital issues, ranging from dealing with terrorism and radicalism to supporting human development and freedom.

The U.S.-Islamic World Forum, organized by the Brookings Project on U.S. Policy Towards the Islamic World at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, is designed to bring together key leaders in the worlds of politics, business, media, academia, and civil society from across the Islamic world (including Muslim communities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East) and the United States. Such an institutionalized dialogue between leaders and opinion-shapers is an urgent necessity, in order to help prevent a fault line from forming between the West and the Islamic world.

The Forum is designed to serve as both a convening body and catalyst for positive action. Therefore, its focus will not be on dialogue just for dialogue's sake, but on developing actionable programs for government, civil society, and the private sector. The Forum's annual conferences are targeted to become the foremost meeting for positive cross-cultural engagement among leaders from the U.S. and the Islamic world. The meetings also provide the foundation for a range of complementary activities designed to enhance the effectiveness of the dialogue. These include a follow-up regional conference series, which would run parallel conferences within other Muslim regions, the assembling of task forces of policymakers and experts, and associated outreach, research, and publications. Collaborative media, education, and youth-centered programs help expand its impact.

The first meeting of the Forum was in January 2004. Over 165 leaders from the U.S. and 37 states in the Muslim world met over the course of 3 days, to discus a wide variety of topics including: the peace process, Iraq, human development, education, the role of the private sector, the new media, etc. The leaders in attendance ranged from Government Ministers and CEOs to Deans of Universities and News Editors. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, delivered the keynote addresses. Proceeding Forums have sought to build upon these foundations by addressing the sense of an upswell for change in the region and in the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world.

The theme of the 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum, “Leaders Effect Change,” seeks to build on the past sessions. Past Forums have established that, in a region once characterized by stasis and stability (for good or bad), immense change has taken place in the relationship between the U.S. and the wider Muslim world since 9-11.

In addition to the dialogue and debate, among the most heartening aspects of the meetings are the various networks and endeavors that are sparked by convening so many dynamic leaders. These included the construction of series of schools and human development initiatives in the region, the formation of a Muslim American foreign policy caucus, and the initiation of “track two” diplomatic talks for certain conflict zones. A summary of the Forum, including all its programs can be found at www.us-islamicworldforum.org.

Notable Press Quotes About The U.S. Islamic World Forum

"Specialists from around the world gathered at the Brookings Institute’s Forum, from Azerbaijan, the Sultanate of Oman, Indonesia, Morocco and from across the Atlantic Ocean… The dialogue maintained a dominant context around political reform, economic and social reform and talk of science and technology. Participants spoke a language of more progress, shining and humanity…” Al Ahram

“The three-day forum…explored the prospects of creating a better and healthier environment for future relations between the United States and the Islamic world. The forum discussed issues such as the peace process in the Middle East in addition to security, stability and development, reforms and technology and the role of the media in raising awareness.”
Al Jazeera

“The US-Islamic World Forum brought together 150 people whom represent the most prestigious decision makers, political academics and researchers.”
Al Rayah

“Leading political leaders from the United States and the Muslim world gathered for the first time at a U.S.-Islamic Forum…to share their concerns about the growing levels of distrust and intolerance between the Muslim world and the United States, breaking new ground on communication in the hopes of preventing ‘a fault line from forming between the West and the Islamic world.’”
The Daily Star

“…A process that can, at a minimum, inform and educate both sides of one of the modern world’s most trenchant divides, and might indeed contribute to wiser words and policies from American and Muslim leaders.”
Diplomatic Traffic

“If today's world didn't have the "U.S.-Islamic World Forum," it would have to be invented. Merely by existing, the conference provides a safe and creative space for world leaders to address our common problems...It will no doubt become the "Davos" for engagement between the U.S. and Muslim countries.”
Global Horizons

“In a world where there are still many prejudices, the Doha Forums are a practical expression of the desire of the great majority who wish to live in peace, harmony and mutual understanding with the rest of humanity.”
Gulf Times

“… Despite the different approaches to the questions posed by the US-Islamic World Forum that ended on here on Tuesday, participants achieved a common stand in their assessments. They said that despite mutual skepticism the two worlds have averted a clash of civilizations and are rebuilding their strained ties.” Gulf News

“Sponsored by the Emir of Qatar and organized by the Brookings Institution, the event brought together a combination of the usual suspects and outside ringers for vigorous, open discussions.”
New York Post

…The forum had gone far ahead… removing the misunderstandings between the two parties. Anger and frustration have given way to serious discussion and contemplation.”
The Peninsula

“…To hang around the lobbies is to have a chance to meet some astonishing people.”
Slate

“…[the] U.S.-Islamic conference I attended in Doha, Qatar, sponsored by the Qatari government and Washington's Brookings Institution, brought together government officials, political activists and thinkers. They described autocracies working to mend a ruptured status quo at minimal cost to themselves, but also populations genuinely divided over the direction of change. Some also reported the beginnings of a turnaround in attitudes toward the United States, which were at rock-bottom a year ago…”
Washington Post

“Muslim and American delegates from the fields of politics, business, civil society, academia, and the news media entered the lion’s den of Muslim mythology and resentment toward America, braving stereotypes, confronting conspiracy theories, and defying taboos. Refreshingly, most delegates seemed interested in exploring ways to ease the tensions and find common ground. Intense and candid formal sessions ended in heated discussions spilling out into hallways. In the evenings, participants clustered in every corner of the conference center to argue, cajole, agree, disagree, and exchange email addresses.” The Weekly Standard

The Brookings Project on
U.S. Relations With the Islamic World

The Brookings Project on U.S. Policy towards the Islamic World is a major research program, housed under the auspices of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy. It is designed to respond to some of the profound questions that the terrorist attacks of September 11th raised for U.S. policy. In particular, it seeks to examine how the United States can reconcile its need to fight terrorism and reduce the appeal of extremist movements with its need to build more positive relations with Muslim states and communities. Its goal has been to serve as both a convening body for people and research and a catalyst for new questions, new ideas, and policy.

The Project has several interlocking components:

• The U.S.-Islamic World Forum, which brings together American and Muslim world leaders from the fields of politics, business, media, academia, arts, science, and civil society, for much-needed discussion and dialogue,
• A Washington Task Force made up of specialists in Islamic, regional, and foreign policy issues (emphasizing diversity in viewpoint and geographic expertise), as well as U.S. government policymakers, which meets to discuss, analyze, and information share on relevant trends and issues,
• A Visiting Fellows program that brings distinguished experts from the Islamic world to spend time at Brookings, both assisting them in their own research, as well as informing the work ongoing in the Project and the wider DC policymaking community,
• A series of Brookings Analysis Papers and Monographs that provide needed analysis of the vital issues of joint concern between the U.S. and the Islamic world,
• An Education and Economic Outreach Initiative, which explore the issues of education reform and economic development towards the Islamic world, in particular the potential role of the private sector,
• A Science and Technology Policy Initiative, which looks at the role that cooperative science and technology programs involving the U.S. and Muslim world can play in responding to regional development and education needs, and in fostering positive relations,
• “Bridging the Divide,” an initiative that explores the role of the American Muslim community in foreign policy issues,
• “Islam in the Age of Globalization,” a joint initiative with American University and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, that explores the issues of authority and legitimacy that underpin leadership in the 21st century, and
• A Brookings Institution Press Book Series, which explores U.S. policy options towards the Islamic World. The aim of the book series is to synthesize the project’s findings for public dissemination.

The underlying goal of the Project is to continue the Brookings Institution’s original mandate to serve as a bridge between scholarship and public policy. It seeks to bring new knowledge to the attention of decision-makers and opinion-leaders, as well as afford scholars, analysts, and the public a better insight into policy issues. The project has been supported through the generosity of a range of partners and donors including the Government of the State of Qatar, the Ford Foundation, the US Institute of Peace, the MacArthur Foundation, The Carnegie Corporation, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, the Shorenstein Center, The Pew Forum, American University, RAND Corporation, the Education for Employment Foundation, and the Institute for Social Policy Understanding. The Project Convenors are Professor Stephen Cohen, Ambassador Martin Indyk, and Professor Shibley Telhami. Dr. Peter W. Singer serves as the Project Director. For further information, please see: http://www.brook.edu/fp/research/projects/islam/islam.htm.

Press Coverage of the 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Africa News (Global)
Al Ahram (Egypt)
The Associated Press (United States)
Al Rayah (Qatar)
Al Hayat (United Kingdom)
Al Jazeera (Pan-Arab)
Al Sharq (Qatar)
Al Sharq Alawsat (Pan-Arab)
AntiWar.com (United States)
Bahrain News Agency (Bahrain)
BERNAMA Malaysian News Agency (Malaysia)
BBC Worldwide Monitoring (United Kingdom)
CNBC (United States)
CNBC Arabia (Pan-Arab)
The Christian Century (United States)
Common Ground News Service (Pan-Arab)
The Commercial Appeal (United States)
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
Financial Times (United Kingdom)
Foreign Information Agency (Qatar)
Federal News Service (United States)
Gulf Times (United Arab Emirates)
Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)
IslamonLine.net (Global)
Inter Press Service (United States)
The Jordan Times (Jordan)
Los Angeles Times (United States)
KuwaitTimes.net (Kuwait)
MPAC News (United States)
Milliyet (Turkey)
MenaFN.com (Global)
Malaysia General News (Malaysia)
Manila Times (Italy)
Mideast Mirror (Global)
The Nation (United States)
New America media (United States)
The New York Times (United States)
Online News Hour (United States)
The Ottawa Citizen (Canada)
The Pakistan Newswire (Pakistan)
Pakistan Press International Information Services Limited (Pakistan)
Pakistan Press International (Pakistan)
The Peninsula (Qatar)
Qatar News Agency (Qatar)
Richmond Times Dispatch (United States)
States News Service (United States)
Taqrir Washington (United States)
The Tribune (India)
This Day (Nigeria)
U.S. Fed News (United States)
U.S. Newswire (United States)
U.S. Voice of America (United States)
The Washington Times (United States)