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About the U.S. Islamic World Forum

The U.S.-Islamic World Forum seeks to serve as both a convening body and a catalyst for positive action. Therefore, its focus is not on dialogue for dialogue's sake, but on developing actionable programs for government, civil society, and the private sector. The first meeting of the Forum was in January 2004. Over 165 leaders from the U.S. and 37 states in the Muslim world convened for three days of discussion and debate. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Sheikh Hamad delivered the keynote addresses. The 2005 Forum sought to build upon these foundations, bringing together 160 leaders from the U.S. and thirty-five Muslim countries, from Senegal to Indonesia.

By focusing on creating a diverse set of attendees, the Forums have created a unique meeting space. The Forum is the only venue where a Wall Street banker might end up sitting next to an Islamist leader from Pakistan or a news editor from Egypt might share dinner with an admiral from the U.S. Navy. While the participants always include an array of notable policymakers and opinion-shapers, others are enthralled by the chance to hear new voices and meet the next generation of leaders. One journalist opined that “…simply to hang around in the lobbies is to have a chance to meet some astonishing people.”
In addition to the dialogue and debate, among the most heartening aspects of the meetings are the various networks and endeavors generated by convening so many dynamic leaders. Past outcomes of the Forum have included the building of schools and other 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. 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 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 and relationship once characterized by stasis and stability (for better or worse), immense change has taken place in the relationship between the US and the wider Muslim world since 9-11. Importantly, this change has mostly taken place in manners and outcomes that few on either side find to be wholly positive. But this status quo, regardless of how one views it, is fleeting. Or, to put it more bluntly, the status quo is change itself. Deliberate policies, both in foreign policy and internal reform, reflect explicit goals to be “agents of change.” At the same time, powerful external dynamics, such as globalization and demographics, buffet the system. The relationship is and will remain in flux. This state of flux shapes everything from debates about the role of religion in politics to the interplay between arts, pop-culture, and perceptions of each other. Both the repercussions of the past and the forces of change lying just over the horizon must be understood.

At the same time, past Forums established the mutual responsibilities that American and Muslim world leaders have towards mending the relationship and working on areas of joint concern. This leads to the question of how will leaders react to these forces of change, and what actions will they take to steer them towards more positive ends? It is a fundamental underpinning of the Forum that true leaders take ownership of problems and work to solve them.

"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 Jazeer

“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. 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 have raised for U.S. policy. In particular, it seeks to examine how the United States can reconcile its need to eliminate terrorism and reduce the appeal of extremist movements with its need to build more positive relations with Muslim states and communities.

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, 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 on a regular basis 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 will 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, and

·                             A Brookings Institution Press Book Series, which will explore U.S. policy options towards the Islamic World. The aim of the book series is to synthesize the project’s findings for public dissemination.