The Mohammed Said Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace is the first chair endowed at any university in the United States that is devoted to the study of Islam and peace. The purpose of the chair is to promote the study and understanding of Islam and peace and traditions, and of Islamic contributions to the quest for global peace, world community, and human solidarity. Islamic perspectives on social justice, the environment, conflict resolution, cultural diversity and governance, as well as the contemporary and historical role of Muslims in peacemaking, will be explored through teaching and curriculum development, scholarship and academic conferences, and outreach to a broad audience that includes high schools and community colleges. American University President, Benjamin Ladner states: "[a]s the world becomes increasingly interdependent, it is imperative that universities foster the study of diverse cultures and religions. Indeed, it is only through such study and understanding that a truly global and just society can emerge."
To understand Islam, we must accept its continued role in Islamic countries on its own terms, primarily as a deeply embedded discourse, and not merely as the vehicle of anti-secular, anti-Western, irrational "extremism." In this respect, modernization theory is misleading in both Western and non-Western contexts, because it implies an artificial bifurcation between secularism and religion. Ironically, some ("orientalist") refutations of the relevance of conventional modernization theory in the Middle East maintain the same evaluation of the relative merits of secularly-defined versus religiously-defined culture, while simply appending a cruel exception for Muslim countries, which are perceived as "not ready for democracy." This view denies the dynamism of cultural and religious traditions and the possibility of democratic forms evolving organically out of a context of meaning that is familiar to people at the grassroots level. Secular values are conflated with humane values, while Islamic values are associated with stasis.
While contemporary scholarship usually grasps the role of political and economic institutions in democracy, it offers a less sophisticated understanding of the mediating role of social institutions. In the context of the Islamic world, we know that the institutions of democracy are not well grounded and that economic maldistribution is pervasive, but we have not devoted enough attention to social organization at the local level. Although local social institutions are imperfect, they do allow for the discussion of issues that affect people's lives. It is at this level that the language and values of Islam are most significant, and the gap between the formal institutions of state and the networks and realities of everyday life is most evident.
Professor Abdul Aziz Said, the senior ranking faculty member at American University, is the first occupant of the chair. Professor Said approaches this opportunity with the understanding that, "...because Islamic traditions provide a set of powerful political precepts and practices with universal implication, Islam also can make important contributions to a peaceful world order -- one that affirms the unique value of all cultural traditions." In particular, Islam prescribes a strong sense of community and solidarity of people; it postulates a collaborative concept of freedom; and it de-mystifies the Western myth of triumphant materialism, progress and development.
Today's challenge for Muslims is to expand the original ideas of Islam. As Muslims seek to harmonize the Islamic spirit of communalism with the changing conditions of their own societies, they have a real opportunity to provide significant leadership in contributing to the betterment of our world.
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