In the world today, there are serious misunderstandings between the West and Islam as well as within Islam itself. Moreover, there is a profound need for visionary Muslim responses to contemporary political, economic, and technological challenges. At the same time, both Muslims and non-Muslims have sometimes failed to recognize the contribution that Islamic thought can make to humanity, and to the development of Islamic societies that are both progressive in their internal governance and cosmopolitan in their external relations. To achieve these ends, however, sustained transnational collaboration among leading Muslim thinkers and practitioners is needed. Significant support is required to accelerate dialogue, to create multiple forums in Islamic as well as Western nations, and to foster practical new ideas and policy proposals. Policymakers need to recognize the historical diversity of Islamic thought and to become more aware of the potential for affirmative Islamic responses to contemporary conflicts and dilemmas.
This initial symposium seeks to initiate a dialogue amongst scholars of Islam, education specialists, and experts on governance and public policy. With the participation of leading intellectuals and policy makers, the two-day symposium is designed to promote intellectual engagement and civic commitments. It will address a number of themes that are of particularly critical importance to today’s Muslim societies.
Agenda
Wednesday, 25 June, 2008
Chair: Amb Paul Heinbecker, Distinguished Fellow, CIGI
08:30 – 9:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Representative of the Speaker of the House, Parliament of Canada
Executive Director, CIGI
09:00 – 11:00 Session 1: The Islamic Intellectual Heritage in a Contemporary Global Context
11:15 – 13:15 Session 2: Modern, Democratic, and Muslim: Toward a Culture of Civic Participation
14:30 – 17:00 Session 3: National and Global Citizenship in the Muslim World: Pedagogical Challenges and Opportunities
Thursday, 26 June, 2008
09:00 – 11:00 Session 4: Canada and the Islamic World: Enhancing Understanding and Building Peace
11:15 – 12:15 Session 5: Action Plan and Proposals for Cooperation 14:30 Closing Remarks and Press Conference