Deconstructing the ‘Clash of Civilizations’ - Programme

Tuesday 24 May

Opening (1.30 – 2.00pm)
Welcoming remarks
Professor John Esposito, Founding Director, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding
Sharon Memis, Director, British Council USA

Session 1 (2.00 – 3.30pm)
Our Shared Future: defining common objectives
Bringing together a broad community of scholars and thought leaders from the US, the UK and Europe, this session will focus on the objectives of the ‘Our Shared Future’ project and draw on the knowledge, expertise and ideas of participants to develop an implementation strategy.

If we are to move away from the ‘Clash of Civilizations’ paradigm, what resources, joint efforts and initiatives are needed? What can be done, collectively, to help change the conceptual framework in which Islam is so often understood? What new concepts, what new language are needed? What steps should be taken to ensure better dissemination of the wealth of knowledge developed by scholars who reject simplistic portrayals of interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims historically and in the present time? Specifically, what concrete actions can be taken by scholars, journalists and opinion makers to effect this change in perspectives?

To help launch the discussion, a panel of three participants will present three aspects of the anti-Muslim narrative as it has developed in recent years:

Violence. It is often implied that Islam is a religion of violence, that passages contained in the Qur’an justify attacks on civilians, etc. Misconceptions about the notion of ‘Jihad’, references to terrorism, ‘honour killings’ and Sharia law also help reinforce this narrative. Likewise, the “anti-West” narrative characterizes intercultural relations as a history of continuous violence and aggression. What are the historical roots of these constructs? What arguments, drawing on recent scholarship, can be developed to successfully undermine this narrative?

Conquest and superiority. This frame feeds on the idea that Islam constitutes a threat to the ‘West’. Based on the idea that conflict is at the root of relations between Muslim and non-Muslim cultures, it finds an expression in growing opposition to the construction of Mosques (often portrayed as ‘victory monuments’), fear that Muslims represent a ‘fifth column’ bent on imposing ‘Jihad by stealth’ and on creating a global ‘Caliphate’. The presence of Muslim immigrants and minority communities is often perceived as a threat to social cohesion and the ‘Western way of life’. How does this frame manifest itself in the public debate today? How can the public conversation on these issues be informed and improved?

Clash of values. A third strand of the anti-Muslim narrative focuses on the ‘otherness’ of Muslims. It casts ‘Muslim culture’ as a separate category, in fundamental opposition to ‘Western values’. Ignoring progressive approaches to religion, Islam is cast as a ‘backward’ faith, tyrannizing women and justifying aggression against non-believers. Debates over the wearing of the veil, the role of religion – particularly Islam – in the public space, religious vs. secularist worldviews often help feed hostility towards Muslim communities. What conceptual tools need to be developed to offer factual, convincing alternatives to this ‘clash of values’ frame?

Following brief presentations by the three panelists, each participant will be asked to put forward 2-3 concrete ideas to be discussed by the group as a whole. These could range, for instance, from the creation of blogs or video interviews to article placement and journalist briefings. Most importantly, participants will be invited to ‘think outside the box’ and come up with original, innovative and practical ideas that could be taken on within the scope of the Our Shared Future project and beyond.

Coffee Break (3.30 – 3.45pm)

Session 2 (3.45 – 5.15pm)
Justice, equality, freedom: reclaiming our shared heritage

This session will highlight Islam’s contribution to the ideas of justice, equality and freedom, key concepts of modernity. It will cast light on how some of the founding ideas of modernity were the product of complex cultural exchanges between Muslims and non-Muslims in Europe and beyond

Public Discussion (6.00 – 7.30pm)
From ‘Us and Them’ to ‘We are Them’: rethinking Muslim-West relations and our common identity

Nearly two years after President Obama’s Cairo speech, to what extent have perceptions and understanding of Muslims and Islam evolved? How do these perceptions continue to shape the political agenda? Relations with Muslim communities in Europe and the US continue to be couched in polarizing language and references to history and to sacred texts in the media and the public conversation often demonize Muslims, mistakenly describing Islamic culture as alien and in contradiction with European and American values.

The challenge is not simply to dispel misconceptions and discredit myths but to refashion and reshape the way in which we think about the other. How do we create a new paradigm, one in which there is no ‘us and them’, but only a ‘we’ – a complex, multilayered, multifaceted ‘we’, made up of multiple, diverse, and mutually enriching identities?

Taking place at a time when President Obama will be visiting the UK, this Panel Discussion will seek to chart the path towards a new understanding of ‘Muslim-West’ relations.

Wednesday 25 May

Session 3 (9.00 – 10.30am)
Media and the Public Debate: mirroring misperceptions or informing opinion?

This session will examine the role of the media in shaping the understanding of Islam and the relationship with Muslim communities in the US and Europe. As the media is a primary trusted source of information for the general public, inaccuracies (deliberate or unintentional) can quickly transform into assumptions and perceived truths. How can the OSF network constructively engage with the media to counter some of these inaccuracies and help frame the conversation on relations with Muslims and Islam in a more inclusive and constructive way?

Coffee break (10.30 – 10.45am)

Session 4 (10.45 – 12.15pm)
Shifting perspectives: Will the ‘Arab Spring’ help change perceptions of Islam?

This session will focus on the significance of current waves of political and social change in the Arab world and their likely impact on perceptions of Islam in the US and Europe. While the understanding of relations with Muslim-majority countries has been shaped by debates on extremism and the war on terror, will recent developments help change the terms of the debate, challenging the prevailing opinion that democracy cannot flourish in the Arab world and that Islam and freedom are somewhat antithetical? Will these events help unseat the “us and them” construct, focusing on common ideals and aspirations?

Lunch (12.30 – 2.00pm)

Session 5 (2.00 – 3.30pm)
Deconstructing polarizing narratives: grassroots initiatives and citizen diplomacy

This session will provide examples of ‘best practices’ amongst some grassroots and new media organizations that have effectively reduced polarization and misunderstanding through their work. Others may want to use these strategies and stories in their own work or writing in an effort to show that the heightened state of tension between the West and Muslim communities is not natural and can be overcome.

Coffee break (3.30 – 3.45pm)

Concluding Session (3.45 – 5.15pm)
Towards a new paradigm

This panel will bring together participants from all five previous panels to present their conclusions and chart a path for future action.
In particular, each participant will be asked to present 2 ideas for a project or activity they are prepared to undertake or help develop to help improve relations between Muslims and non-Muslims and shift the public conversation towards a new paradigm of collaboration and shared values.
Chair: John Esposito, Georgetown University

Contact the event organisers