Building networks of Islamic moderation

The authors see that dogmatic and radical interpretations of Islam have gained popularity in many Muslim communities, through the networks of Islamists that cover Muslim countries and their migrant gatherings in North America and Europe. Although moderates are the majority in the Islamic world, they have not developed similar networks or platforms to carry their messages and ensure protection when targeted. With their significant experience in building, supporting, and financing networks of individuals committed to free ideas and democracy during the Cold War, the United States sees it as its duty to play a pivotal role in supporting "moderate" Muslims. The authors draw lessons from the US experience in building allied networks during the Cold War and seek to evaluate how well they align with the current situation in the Islamic world, then assess the effectiveness of US government plans and programs in dealing with the Islamic world, and develop a "roadmap" to establish Islamic moderation networks. This study is primarily aimed at the American decision-maker; to complete the cognitive dimension of US policies in confronting Islamic extremism. It establishes a political reality and does not preempt it with theorizing. It should be read in this context, and attention should be paid to the fact that the term used is not absolute; rather, it expresses a biased perspective by its very nature of a knowledge-based imperialism, seeking to shape the Muslim other according to its own perceptions, which it attributes with epistemic and human universality.