Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Renowned Islamic scholar John L. Esposito spoke Sunday night at the Diplomatic Club in Doha. In his remarks, the Georgetown University professor discussed some of the findings of his latest book, Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.

The lecture, sponsored by the Center for International and Regional Studies at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, focused on what Esposito called the “clash of perceptions” between the Muslim world and the West. The book presents an analysis and interpretation of a 6-year Gallup survey of more than 50,000 Muslims to build an understanding of the views of Muslims around the world.

According to Esposito, who serves as the Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, the survey results paint an informative picture of the differences between Muslims and their counterparts in the Western world. He said that the majority of Muslims interviewed stated an admiration for many Western ideals, including technology, political participation and economic growth. “Most young people want jobs, not jihad,” Esposito said.

Despite the increased awareness of the Muslim world after 9/11, Esposito declared that the rift between Islam and the West has only gotten worse. 57% of the Western respondents said they admired nothing or couldn’t think of anything to admire in the Muslim world.

“This creates a problem,” said Esposito.

The only way to correct this fundamental clash of perceptions is to foster and build a greater understanding between the two sides. The United States, he said, must look for ways to emphasize “soft power,” such as economic aid and foreign policy, rather than military force. Military force can really only be used against extremists. To win over the mainstream, the US must work to address the criticisms leveled against it.

According to Esposito, the US is seen as unilateral and aggressive. Many people in the West feel that the root of the problem lies in a lack of understanding of Western culture. “They think they just don’t understand us [the West],” he said. “That isn’t true. They’ve studied in American universities. They like who we are in terms of our principles and values, they just don’t like what we do or don’t do.”

The real problem, according to Esposito, is that many Muslims feel there is a double standard between Western ideals and Western actions. He cited examples such as American support of Palestinian elections, but a seeming failure to accept the results, as well as America’s failure to act during the war between Israel and Lebanon in 2006. Such examples create a perception that Western governments support democracy, but only when convenient.

In order to restore credit to the West, Esposito reiterated the need for democratic governments to provide less support to military regimes and more aid to civil groups and NGOs. The West must also commit to promoting freedom and human rights in the way it offers aid, and be willing to withhold aid and support when necessary.