Description:
Carnegie Council Senior Fellows Joshua S. Fouts and Rita J. King will present findings from their
Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds project. After a year of exploring digital Islamic communities, Fouts and King conclude that engaging with people in virtual worlds who self-identify as Muslim can be part of a broader public diplomacy strategy to foster inclusive perspectives on religion, society, and coexistence.
Virtual platforms, while they involve real people, do not involve physical contact, making them a useful medium to explore productive responses to conflict without the threat of violence or intimidation. The U.S. government has recently taken note of these trends, as evidenced by the State Department's move toward
Public Diplomacy 2.0 and the
Army's presence in the virtual world of
Second Life.
What are the responsibilities of these actors in virtual communities? What prospects do virtual worlds offer for peaceful intercultural understanding and creative growth among nations?
Fouts and King will show a brief video documentary of their explorations on the diplomatic frontier, and Iran's top hip hop artist,
YAS, has generously offered to perform a couple tracks.
Policy Innovations Managing Editor Evan O'Neil will moderate. Wine reception to follow.
