This book carries out a comparative study of the US response to popular uprisings in the Middle East as an evaluation of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy commitments. In 2009, Obama publicly pledged “a new beginning in US-Muslim relations,” causing eager expectation of a clear shift in US foreign policy after the election of the 44th president of the United States. However, the achievement of such a shift was made particularly difficult by the existence of multiple, and sometimes conflicting, US interests in the region which influenced the Obama administration’s response to the popular uprisings in five Muslim-majority countries: Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, and Syria. After providing a detailed analysis of the traditional features of both US foreign policy rhetoric and practice, this book turns its focus to the Obama administration’s response to the 2011 Arab Awakening to determine whether Obama’s foreign policy has indeed brought about a new beginning in US-Muslim relations.

Describes the rise of political Islam and Islamic radicalism, and the failures--some politically motivated--of American attempts to confront the Muslim world chiefly in terms of terrorism, and suggests ways to switch to a more diplomatic focus.

The Christians that lived around the Arabian Peninsula during Muhammad’s lifetime are shrouded in mystery. Some of the stories of the Prophet’s interactions with them are based on legends and myths, while others are more authentic and plausible. But who exactly were these Christians? Why did Muhammad interact with them as he reportedly did? And what lessons can today’s Christians and Muslims learn from these encounters? Scholar Craig Considine, one of the most powerful global voices speaking in admiration of the prophet of Islam, provides answers to these questions. Through a careful study of works by historians and theologians, he highlights an idea central to Muhammad’s vision: an inclusive Ummah, or Muslim nation, rooted in citizenship rights, interfaith dialogue, and freedom of conscience, religion and speech. In this unprecedented sociological analysis of one of history’s most influential human beings, Considine offers groundbreaking insight that could redefine Christian and Muslim relations.

Outlining a comprehensive strategy to enhance United States relations with Muslim countries, this report reflects the consensus of 34 American leaders including 11 Muslim Americans in the fields of foreign and defense policy, politics, business, religion, education, public opinion, psychology, philanthropy, and conflict resolution.

President Barack Hussein Obama began his first term in office with aggressive pronouncements of a change in the course of America’s relations with the Muslim world. One year into his presidency, Obama’s policies toward US Muslims appear to continue on the path set by his predecessor. This is the prevailing perception among the immigrant-dominated Arab and Muslim community groups in the United States. While government agencies dealing with Muslims have not altered their behavior under Obama, they are reflecting public concerns about Americanizing Muslim immigrants. The forces shaping the worldview of Muslim immigrants come from several sources. The rise of American economic and military power in the world since World War II meant that many immigrants had been exposed to American ideas in their countries of origin. Also, many came from places that had been experiencing a religious revival and some had joined Islamic movements before coming to the United States. Meanwhile, technological advancements in transportation and communication made it easier for recent immigrants to remain connected with their countries of origin, but still continue to flock to the United States. The Bush administration fell under the influence of neoconservatives who rode a wave of resurgent nationalism after 9/11. The Obama administration shifted toward the center of the American political spectrum. The seeming lack of change in domestic policies toward Muslims shows that the assimilation pressures that followed 9/11 are continuing. Yet community activists are in denial of the new reality; they have been accustomed to adapting slowly to American life. This paper will explore the growth of the Muslim community in the United States, the place of activist organizations in the community, their responses to assimilation, and the prospects for community–government dynamics.

The spread of anti-Americna feeling in the Islamic world is a serious problem for the United States. The growth of hostility to America in Muslim countries increases recruitment and support for extremism and terror. It also undercuts U.S. efforts to promote reform, making America's embrace a millstone for the local allies whose support we need. Anti-Americanism also threatens to damage the commercial and investment climate for U.S. business in countries that are essential energy sources and potentially significant markets. Although the seriousness of the problem has won growing recognition, neither public nor private efforts have addressed Muslim hostility to America with the sustained focus or resources required. A series of reports on public diplomacy, including two Task Force reports by the Council on Foreign Relations, has languished. In part, at least, this seems due to two widespread views about Muslim anti-Americanism: that "they hate us for who we are" and thus cannot be persuaded otherwise; and that "they hate us for what we do," such that attitudes cannot shift without major policy changes. Both of these views are partly true, but neither comprises the whole truth.