Eon English

Did Western think tanks attempt to reshape Islam after 9/11? What was the RAND Corporation's vision for the Muslim world, and why does a 2003 policy paper continue to generate debate more than two decades later? In this thought-provoking episode, the hosts sit down with a scholar to examine the controversial RAND Corporation report "Civil Democratic Islam" authored by Cheryl Benard during the height of the War on Terror era. The discussion explores how policymakers and think tanks sought to understand, categorize, and potentially influence Muslim societies following 9/11. The conversation focuses on the report's framework for identifying different ideological trends within the Muslim world and its recommendations for engaging with religious, political, and intellectual actors. A major part of the episode examines RAND's classification of Muslim groups into Traditionalists, Fundamentalists, Modernists, and Secularists, and why Western policymakers viewed some of these groups as more desirable partners than others. The discussion also explores the long-term impact of colonial and modern educational systems, the creation of Western-oriented intellectual elites, and the broader question of whether Muslim societies have become disconnected from their own scholarly and intellectual traditions. The conversation further examines debates surrounding religious authority, Hadith studies, modernist interpretations of Islam, and the growing influence of media personalities in shaping public understanding of religion. Ultimately, the episode asks a larger question: Who shapes religious discourse in the modern Muslim world traditional scholars, state institutions, media personalities, or international policy networks? Whether one agrees or disagrees with the RAND report's conclusions, the discussion offers a fascinating look into the intersection of geopolitics, religion, education, and ideological influence. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 The RAND Corporation & The War on Terror Era 3:15 Cheryl Benard Strategic Thinking 7:30 Sec