04 April 2003
Scholar Proposes Four Steps to Improve U.S. Ties to Islamic World
(Former NEA Assistant Secretary Walker says democracy, reform vital to
future) (590)
By Alicia Langley
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- A prominent scholar of Islam has suggested a four-pillar
strategy for improving relations between the United States and the
Islamic world.
Speaking at George Washington University in Washington April 3, Akbar
Ahmed said the first pillar was the need for education on the both
sides.
Americans need to learn the answers to questions such as, "What is a
Sunni?, What is a Shi'a?, What is a Kurd?, and What is a Turk?" Ahmed
said.
He said overhauling the education systems in the Islamic world is
crucial to changing attitudes in Muslim societies.
"We need to look at the syllabus, at the teacher training. If that
does not change then the thinking will not change," Ahmed said.
Ahmed is a professor of international affairs at American University
in Washington and a former Pakistani high commissioner (ambassador) to
the United Kingdom. He also is noted as an author, anthropologist and
filmmaker.
The second pillar involved steps by governments in the United States
and the Islamic world to nurture democracy, Ahmed said. He pointed out
that the notion of democracy is contained in the teachings of Islam
and Muslims understand the concept of egalitarian society.
The United States needs to remind Muslims to "rediscover their own
tradition" and to commit to wholeheartedly supporting democracy in the
Islamic world, he said.
He noted that while it publicly endorses democracy, the United States
often has opted to support dictators for reasons of expediency. By
dealing with a dictator, the United States can exert more immediate
influence than by trying to sway the public opinion of a foreign
country, he said. He added that waiting for the democratic process to
unfold takes time.
Thirdly, Washington must be aware of the growing anger in the Muslim
world toward the United States and make efforts to engage and
appreciate Islamic culture, Ahmed said.
That point was reinforced by Edward Walker, a retired diplomat who
served as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs and
U.S. ambassador to Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
"We (in Washington) often talk to ourselves," Walker said at the same
forum where Ahmed spoke.
Fourthly, Ahmed said the economic gaps between the world's richest and
poorest nations must be narrowed. He said the gaps are expanding daily
as a result of globalization, and the International Monetary Fund and
the World Bank have roles to play in closing them.
Ahmed and Walker expressed the hope that Muslim hostility toward the
United States will slacken after Iraq is liberated and the country
goes into transition toward democracy and civil society. They voiced
support for Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent comments, in
which he said he hoped that Muslim hostility will recede after the
"road map" for Middle East peace is unveiled by the international
quartet and accepted without conditions by the Israelis and
Palestinians.
"People want democracy and reform but they don't want it forced upon
them," Walker said. Without democracy and reform, he said, "we are
likely to see a surge in terrorism and their frustration toward
America will grow."
Both Walker and Ahmed were asked to name one thing the United States
could do to improve America's image abroad. Walker suggested getting
agreement on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Ahmed said that the United
States should highlight its compassion in its official rhetoric,
speeches and actions.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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