'Coalition of consent' with the Muslim world
21 May 2009
Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, delivered a key speech at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS) on 21 May calling for a 'coalition of consent' with the Muslim world.Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, delivered a key speech at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS) on 21 May calling for a 'coalition of consent' between the West and the Muslim world.
During the speech the Foreign Secretary acknowledged the West's legacy on the landscape of the Middle East and South Asia and the 'sense of bitterness, distrust and resentment' the invasion of Iraq has aroused.
David Miliband argued that we need to understand the Muslim world better, and work with Muslim majority countries in new ways to forge consent and tackle seemingly intractable global problems.
The Financial Times wrote an editorial following the speech 'Engaging Islamists' concluding that the Foreign Secretary 'is asking many of the right questions.'
The Foreign Secretary also highlighted his speech in his blog: forging coalitions with the Muslim world and wrote a guest blog on Spirit21.
Further information
Find out how we are building coalitions with the Muslim world and read about the UK's position on the Middle East Peace Plan.
Read Julian Glover's article on the West and Islam on the Guardian website.
