One of the greatest challenges in global politics today is the dangerous tension that has grown between the United States and the world's predominantly Muslim states and communities, specifically regarding the Middle Eastern and North African regions. This deepening divide is a critical impediment to cooperation on a breadth of vital issues of joint concern, ranging from terrorism and radicalism to human development and freedom that Americans for Informed Democracy aims to address.

Cultural Diplomacy - The Hope Not Hate Initiative

Recent polling found that 90% of publics in Muslim states view the U.S. as the primary security threat to their country, while the number of Americans who have a negative view of the entire religion of Islam as a whole has grown each year since the 9-11 attacks, making up almost half the U.S. body politic. We are working to ensure that young Muslims and non-Muslims see a more effective and harmonious vision for the future of U.S.-Islamic relations. We coordinate town halls and videoconferences, especially around the anniversary of September 11th, which raise awareness about how the U.S. and the Muslim world can work together to stem growing mutual hatred. The series has engaged more than 20,000 students and citizens in two hundred communities from Macon, Georgia and Vermillion, South Dakota to Amman, Jordan, and Jakarta, Indonesia. These events have facilitated broad, inclusive dialogue between young leaders and Congresspersons, Ambassadors, journalists, military officials, scholars and even a head of state. The events have also had a cultural component, including a conversation with MTV’s Gideon Yago and a concert performance by Salman Ahmad, the leader of South Asia's biggest rock band, Junoon. The Boston Globe editorial board has called our Hope not Hate series on U.S.-Muslim world relations “a victory of knowledge and inquiry over fear and blind pledges of revenge.” The series also received Search for Common Ground’s Award for International Understanding in 2005 and our efforts to bridge the U.S.-Islamic world divide received special recognition from Madeleine Albright at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative.

International Advocacy

With roughtly two-thirds of all people living in the Middle East region under the age of 30, it has become essential for United States foreign policy to consider the attitudes of young people in the Middle East and how U.S. policies will shape their lives. Americans for Informed Democracy works together with young Middle Eastern and Americans to shape ideas and facilitate efforts to improve the US-Middle East relationship in a more collaborative and coexistent method. AID works with young Americans to foster dialogue with their counterparts in the Middle East through videoconferences, international conferences, and facilitated discussions.

For two years, AID has successfully partnered with the Project on Middle East Democracy to hold conferences in Rabat, Morocco, Cairo, Egypt, and Amman, Jordan to develop policy recommendations to the American and Arab governments. Workshops in the region have allowed the dialogue to continue beyond the conferences, in addition to international videoconferences. Special guests have included Jordanian Prince Hassan bin Talal, American diplomats, representatives from Freedom House, National Democratic Institute, National Republican Institute, USAID, and many others! Cooperative efforts have included organizations such as the Alwaleed Center for American Studies and Research at the American University in Egypt, Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, National Institute for Youth and Democracy in Morocco, Leaders of Tomorrow in Jordan, and the Annual Conference of Engineering Students at Ain Shams University in Egypt. Elected representatives were flown to Washington, DC, to attend a four-day schedule of meetings on Capitol Hill, Senator McCain's and Senator Obama's presidential campaigns, USAID, Freedom House, NDI, NRI, the State Department, and many other officials.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

February 28th 2009 – Hope Not Hate Leadership Retreat – East Lansing, MI

PAST CONFERENCES

February 7 - Hope Not Hate Leadership Retreat - San Antonio

October 4 - Hope Not Hate Leadership Retreat - Evanston, IL

October 9 - Pre-Election 2008 MENA International Videoconference

November 13 - Pre-Election 2008 MENA International Videoconference

Featured Partners:

We have worked with the Brookings Institution to host a global youth videoconference as part of their high-level U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha and to co-host a three-day conference for more than 400 young leaders to commemorate the fifth anniversary of 9-11.

We have worked with Families of September 11 to set up town hall events where relatives of 9-11 victims can speak about how much it means to them for the U.S. to better understand and engage with the Muslim world.

We have worked with Voices of September 11th to host panel discussions on university campuses on putting the 9-11 Commission reforms into action, featuring a bi-partisan group of U.S. Senators and 9-11 Commission leaders. 

We have worked with America Abroad Media to host global videoconferences between young Americans and their peers in Jordan, Russia, and Cote d’Ivoire.

We have worked with the Project on Middle East Democracy in Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco to host conferences for young Americans and their Middle Eastern and North African peers on the role the United States plays in democracy development in the region.

Learn more about current partners and collaborative initiatives here.

Noted Speakers:

Slade Gorton, former U.S. Senator (R-WA) and member of the 9-11 Commission
Strobe Talbott, President, The Brookings Institution 
Joseph Lieberman, U.S. Senator (D-CT)
Amina Rasul-Bernardo, Lead Convenor, Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy
Jordanian Prince Hassan bin Talal

News Clips from AID Events on U.S.-Muslim World Relations:

“A group of about 600 people, mainly composed of students, attended a discussion about
U.S.-Muslim world relations, in which the four panel members mentioned that
understanding one another is the first step to improving relations.” Daily O’Collegian
(University of Oklahoma)

“Over 400 students from around the United States and a number of Muslim countries
gathered in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 8 for a three-day summit to discuss the possibility
of a new, positive direction for a relationship between the United States and the Islamic
world... Panelists stressed the negative consequences of the war on terrorism and told the
audience that as a young generation, it would be their responsibility to reverse the
growing tide of animosity, ignorance and suspicion that dominate public opinion both in
America and in the Muslim world.” – WorldPress.org

“A standing-room-only audience marked the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, at a
panel discussion Wednesday... The panel consisted of DU professors of religious studies,
Liyakat Takim and Carl Raschke, Colorado College political science professor Robert D.
Lee and Lt. Col. Joe Rice of the U.S. Army Reserves, who has served two tours of duty
in Iraq. Wednesday's discussion focused on how Americans perceive the Muslim world
and offered suggestions for improving U.S. - Muslim relations. The event drew people
from all aspects of the social-political spectrum as the diverse audience filled the Arthur
Gilbert Cyber Café to capacity.” The Clarion (University of Denver)

“[L]eaders of Americans for Informed Democracy, a student-run nonpartisan group, are
planning 30 town hall meetings across the country to discuss U.S.-Islamic world
relations. Students and family members of Sept. 11 victims are organizing the sessions,
which will feature conversations with a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress,
former ambassadors and scholars.” The Washington Post (Column by Nora Boustany)