The Atlantic Seminar: Understanding Political Islam

This international workshop ‘Understanding Islam’ was organized by CES in cooperation with both the Political Academy of the Austrian People’s Party and International Republican Institute (IRI). It took place on the 22 and 23 March 2010 in Vienna, Austria. More than twenty experts from all over the world participated and discussed the latest developments in the Islamic world. The participants of the two-day seminar considered the different Islamic streams and characteristics in Islamic and Western countries and their impact on politics.

The first day, the welcoming remarks were made by Werner Fasslabend, the President of the Political Academy and Jan Surotchak, the Resident IRI Director for Europe and the session was opened by CES and EPP President Wilfried Martens. The Summary of IRI’s Work on Political Islam was presented by Patrick Egan, Director of Regional Program for Europe from International Republican Institute (IRI) and the presentation on the ‘Understanding of Political Islam’ was made by Walid Phares, Visiting Fellow at European Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, Brussels/Washington. Lorenzo Vidino, the Initiative on Religion in International Affairs from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, talked about Islam in European Politics and the discussion concluded the day’s activities.

The second day session was opened by Tomi Huhtanen, CES Director and David Vriesendorp, Member of the Board of Directors from Eduardo Frei Foundation, The Netherlands. Three case studies regarding the ‘Mapping of Political Islam’ were presented by Amr Hamzawy from the Carnegie Middle East Center, Beirut. Gunter Seufert , Freelance Author and Journalist writing for Berliner Zeitung talked about ‘Understanding the Success of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’ and the AK Party. The topic ‘Engaging Political Islam’ was also debated by Ambassador Olof Ehrenkrona, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Sweden. The concluding discussion: ‘Considering Political Families in the Euro-Mediterranean’ was Chaired by Alberto Carnero, the Director of International Programs of FAES, Spain.