How to Improve Relations with the Muslim World

-Challenges and Promises

AheadCSID's 10th Annual ConferenceTuesday, May 5, 2009Washington DCThe election of Barack Obama as America's 44th president has galvanized the entire nation, indeed the entire world. A world full of possibilities appears to have opened up, prompted by President Obama's attitude and policies of inclusiveness and even-handedness. In his inaugural address, the new president remarked memorably, "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." All these developments give rise to the following questions - does this deliberate change in the new administration's worldview augur a more hopeful trajectory for US relations with the Muslim world? Dare we imagine just and more equitable approaches - and eventually solutions - to the political and economic problems which beset many Muslim-majority societies? Will there be a concerted effort to revive the peace process in the Middle East? Will the war-torn societies of Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine, for example, have opportunities to heal and become fully self-determining? These and related questions form the backdrop to the tenth annual conference of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy. It is clear at the present time that considerable challenges and promise lie ahead for future relations between the US and the Muslim world. This conference will attempt to identify and assess the nature of some of these challenges and determine if the new administration's proposed policy changes potentially herald a more positive and fruitful relationship. Paper proposals are invited from prospective participants on the following five broad topics. Possible topics are not restricted to the ones that follow but proposals must establish their relevance in general to the issues of improving relations and understanding between the US and the Islamic world:

A. Positively Engaging the Muslim World: Learning from Past MistakesThere has been a considerable erosion in mutual trust and respect between the US and Muslim-majority societies. What specific engagements would contribute to this trust being effectively restored? What role should Muslims in the United States and elsewhere play in this endeavor? What groups or institutions outside the U.S. might contribute productively?

B. The Development of Democracy in the Muslim World - Best PracticesWhere and how have efforts to promote good governance in this region succeeded and failed and what are the reasons for these results? Once again, what have we learned from this mixed record? Can we identify the most promising prospects that should be encouraged? Where do we go from here? What role can the US play in the promotion of democracy and human rights in the region?

C. Looking Ahead - Identifying the Challenges and PromisesUnder this broad rubric, papers may discuss the social, economic, political, intellectual and religious forces that might provide for better governance leading toward peace and prosperity and the policies, institutions and programs that would encourage these developments.

D. Prospects for Peace in the Middle EastWhat can the US do to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians? Can a two-state solution still be implemented based on the 2002 Arab peace proposal, and the 1967 borders? Should the US engage both Iran and Hamas in a dialogue that would lead to reconciliation, peace with justice, and prosperity for the entire Middle East?

Paper proposals (no more than 400 words) are due by February 20, 2008 and should be
sent to: Prof. Tamara SonnChair, Conference Program CommitteeE-mail: conference2009@islam-democracy.org

Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 15, 2008 and final papers must be submitted by April 1, 2008.Selected panelists and speakers must cover their own travel and accommodations to participate in the conference, and pay the conference registration fee ($100) by April 1. CSID will waive the conference registration fees and provide an honorarium of $300 for speakers and panelists coming from overseas to present their papers.