Announcement: Muslim Youth Leadership Program Winter 2009 Conference (Media Relations) Now Accepting Applications
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Focus Article: The confluence of civilisations
by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Several months ago, President Barack Obama made a historic speech in Cairo seeking to redefine relations between America and the Muslim world. I would like to respond to that speech.
Sixteen years ago, Samuel Huntington published an essay proposing that after the Cold War, civilisations, religions and cultures would become the defining feature of international relations and would constitute the primary cause of conflicts between and within nations.
To me, the term “clash of civilisations” itself is counterproductive. I don’t believe that civilisations are inherently incompatible and prone to conflict when they interact. But Huntington’s warning of post-Cold War fault lines and potential turbulence is not a trivial reminder. Civilisational issues are rife in modern politics. Indeed, Huntington’s warning also has relevance to Indonesia.
In the roller coaster years following independence, Indonesia suffered separatist threats, ethnic and religious conflicts, and Islamic insurgencies.
But we overcame these challenges. We adapted. And instead of failing, we thrived.
I believe we can fundamentally change and evolve the way civilisations, religions and cultures interact. This is not utopia; it is a pragmatic vision. I have seen it work. The question is: Can we make it work globally? Read more…
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World Commentary
- Who’s Next? Lessons From the Long War and a Blowback World by Tom Engelhardt
- Community Organiser-in-Chief: Barack Obama’s foreign policy potential by Daniel Noah Moses
- The Banks Are Not Alright by Paul Krugman
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Videos: CAIR In The News
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Rachel Maddow Exposes Anti-Islam Extremists in Congress Part 1 |
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Rachel Maddow Exposes Anti-Islam Extremists in Congress Part 2 |
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CAIR Rep Discusses ‘Manchurian Interns’ with CNN’s Rick Sanchez |
