Debating the War of Ideas

"Their ideas are bankrupt," asserted President Obama to al Arabiyah in the first media interview of his presidency. What ideas was he talking about? Obama was referring to a war, or overlapping wars, of ideas: moral claims, political philosophies, and historical interpretations about the fundamental principles of human society, including what it means to be a citizen, how society should be structured, and how we balance the trade-offs inherent in Justice and Order. Debating the War of Ideas brings together competing voices from across continents, religions, and political persuasions to present their understanding of the ideological strife within the Muslim world and/or between Islamic and Western traditions. This event included a panel discussion with chapter contributors Asma Afsaruddin, Akbar Ahmed, Walid Phares, Eric Patterson, and others.

Debating the War of Ideas was co-edited by Berkley Center Assistant Director Eric Patterson and Major John Gallagher (USA) and includes a range of contributors, including Akbar Ahmed, Karen Armstrong, Alan Dershowitz, Bassam Tibi, Robert Spencer, Bernard Rougier and others. More information about the book can be found here.