How to Let Islam and the West Live in Harmony

The recently-re-elected president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, says that religiosity will continue to rise in coming years. But it will come against the backdrop of rising multiculturalism and tolerance as people realize that cooperation and democracy can help transcend global challenges like climate change and terrorism. To ensure this tolerance is secured, Yudhoyono calls for the strengthening of inter-religious dialogue, especially on a grassroots levels; more contact between leaders in the Islamic world and the West; and better education. Most importantly, globalization’s benefits need to spread to all the world’s civilizations. The result will be the replacement of a putative “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the West with a “confluence of civilizations. – YaleGlobal