Can Civil Society Help Bridge Divides between the United States and a Diverse Muslim World?
Executive Summary Does the Obama presidency present an opportunity for civil society to restore the damaged relationships between the United States and diverse Muslim-majority states and communities around the world? Like never before, the 21st century has seen varied and distinct peoples, nations, religions, and ideologies thrust together through dramatic interconnections in economic trade, the media, and the internet. Governments, citizens, and civil society groups from regions that previously had little interaction are suddenly finding themselves connected, whether they like it or not. While some groups have found common ground, clashes and divisions have emerged among others. Most notably, the divides between the United States and a diverse Muslim world, longstanding in some ways, have dramatically deepened since September 11th, 2001 and remained significant through the end of the Bush Administration.
