What are the views of the American Muslim community about its role within American society and the Muslim world in general? What are its views of the relationship between Islam and democracy? What unique experiences and perspectives can American Muslims living within a democratic society offer to the diversity of views within the wider Muslim world? What does the tradition of Islamic social thought have to say to American Muslims at this juncture? What is the future relationship between Islam and human rights, the rule of law, and democracy? These important questions have all come to the fore since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The Ethics and Public Policy Center has launched a series of seminars and conversations through which distinguished American Muslim leaders, as well as Muslim leaders from abroad, can have an opportunity to present and explore their reflections on these subjects with their fellow non-Muslim American colleagues. The third speaker in this series is Dr. Sohail Hashmi, who is presently Assistant Professor of International Relations at Mt. Holyoke College. A graduate of both Harvard and Princeton Universities, Dr. Hashmi has written widely on international affairs, Islamic political and ethical thought, and the relationship between Islam and constitutional government.