WHERE HOPE TAKES ROOT

2. WHERE HOPE TAKES ROOT Online Resource: http://www.nanowisdoms.org/nwblog/category/collections/where-hope-takes-root/ BY: KAMALUDDIN ALI MUHAMMAD

3. THREE CONDITIONS “ I put it to you that no human development initiative can be sustainable unless we are successful in achieving three essential conditions. First, we must operate in an environment that invests in, rather than seeks to stifle, pluralism and diversity. Second, we must have an extensive and engaged civil society. Andthird, we must have stable and competent democratic governance.” (Nobel Institute, Oslo, Norway, 7 April 2005)

4. PLURALISM(Definition) “Pluralism means peoples of diverse backgrounds and interests, coming together in organizations of varying types and goals, for different kinds and forms of creative expression, which are valuable and deserving of support by government and society as a whole. I deeply believe that our collective conscience must accept that pluralism is no less important than human rights for ensuring peace, successful democracy and a better quality of life.” (Leadership and Diversity Conference Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, May 19, 2004 )

5. SUPPORTING PLURALISM “It is my conviction that the strengthening of institutions supporting pluralism is as critical for the welfare and progress of human society as are poverty alleviation and conflict prevention. In fact all three are intimately related.” (Prince Claus Fund's Conference on Culture and Development, Amsterdam, September 7, 2002)

6. NURTURING PLURALISM “Developing support for pluralism does not occur naturally in human society. It is a concept which must be nurtured every day, in every forum -- in large and small government and private institutions; in civil society organizations working in the arts, culture, and public affairs, in the media; in the law, and in justice -- particularly in terms of social justice, such as health, social safety nets and education; and in economic justice, such as employment opportunities and access to financial services.” (Prince Claus Fund's Conference on Culture and Development, Amsterdam, 7th September 2002)

7. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MUSLIM CIVILIZATIONS “It is my profound belief that the Judeo-Christian world will find it a hopeless endeavour to try to address the issues of democracy, civil society and pluralism in the Muslim world unless a major effort – and I mean an absolutely major effort– is made by the Judeo-Christian world to acquire deeper and wider knowledge about Muslim civilizations. This is a first step toward building dialogue and understanding. Continue…

8. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MUSLIM CIVILIZATIONS …the effort I am describing will have to be systematic and extended over many decades to be successful. It must reach a wide spectrum of students in secondary schools and not be restricted to the specialized knowledge of higher education as it is today. (Annual Conference of German Ambassadors, Berlin, Germany, September 6, 2004)

9. TOLERANCE The spiritual roots of tolerance include, it seems to me, a respect for individual conscience - seen as a Gift of God - as well as a posture of religious humility before the Divine. It is by accepting our human limits that we can come to see The Other as a fellow seeker of truth -- and to find common ground in our common quest. (Tutzing Evangelical Academy, Tutzing, Germany, May 20, 2006)

10. GLOBAL CENTRE FOR PURALISM “The AKDN has begun to formalize its support for democracy, pluralism and civil society through the establishment of a Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa. This education and research centre will work closely with governments, academia and civil society to foster legislation and policy to strengthen local capacity for enhancing pluralism.” (Annual Conference of German Ambassadors, Berlin, Germany, September 6, 2004)

11. CIVIL SOCIETY (Definition) The World Bank uses the term to refer to a wide array of organizations that have a presence in public life but are not affiliated to the state. They function on a not-for-profit basis to express the interests and values of their members and others, based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations. In this sense, civil society organizations are multifarious: from community and indigenous groups through faith-based and charitable organizations, to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labour unions, professional associations and foundations. Continue…

12. But there is a broader definition that holds that civil society embraces an even wider diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms that vary in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Besides the Bank’s categories, these spaces are populated by such organizations as village and women’s groups, neighbourhood self-help groups, social movements, business associations, microcredit organizations, coalitions and advocacy groups. (Convocation of the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, Canada, June 18, 2004 ) CIVIL SOCIETY (Definition)

13. IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY “No country to my knowledge can achieve stable continuous growth if its civil society is constrained by inherent institutional instability. (Annual Meeting of The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 5, 2003)

14. DEMOCRACY “Three concepts seem to me to be essential in creating, stabilizing and strengthening democracy around the world, including among the people of Africa and Asia with whom I have worked in the past. These concepts are meritocracy, pluralism and civil society. “ (Leadership and Diversity Conference Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, May 19, 2004 )

15. FAILED DEMOCRACIES “Much of the world’s attention is periodically focused on the phenomenon of so-called failed states. But of the global threats that face us today, apart from nuclear war or HIV/AIDS, the most preoccupying is not failed states. It is the failure of democracy. The global picture at the beginning of the 21st century is a story of failed democracies in the Muslim world, in Latin America, in Eastern Europe and in sub-Saharan Africa. A startling fact today is that nearly forty percent of UN member nations are failed democracies. The greatest risk to the West itself, and to its values, is therefore the accumulation of failed democracies. (Governor General’s Leadership Conference , Gatineau, Canada, May 19, 2004)

16. DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE “The point is this: democracy is fragile. It is susceptible to failure at any time, in any society. The experience of Europe in the last fifty years should also be a sobering reminder of another unfortunate truism. Elections and the existence of political parties do not by themselves guarantee stable governments, competent political leadership and respect for the constitution. Nor do they guarantee good economic management and the absence of corruption. If this has been the experience in the birthplace of modern democracy, I must urge you to be patiently supportive of democratic experiments in the Middle East and in the wider developing world.” (Annual Conference of German Ambassadors, Berlin, Germany, September 6, 2004)

17. “I AM A DEMOCRAT” “Sometimes I read that Islam is in conflict with democracy. Yet I must tell you that as a Muslim, I am a democrat not because of Greek or French thought, but primarily because of principles that go back 1400 years, directly after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).” (Annual Conference of German Ambassadors, Berlin, Germany, September 6, 2004)

18. SPECIAL THANKS TO • AKBAR ABDUL MAJEED HUDA (RBKB) • HINA ABDUL MAJEED HUDA • AMIR ALI KASSIM ALI (HRD) For their help in preparing the presentation

19. THANK YOU