Dedicated to increasing our knowledge and awareness of the ever-growing diversity and pluralism of global society, Forum A. & A. Leysen has initiated a debate/lecture series, with a focus on Islam in today's world and in Europe in particular. Well-known influential authorities each an active participant in the public debate on the global role of Islam past, present, and future presented papers at the several Intercultural Relations meetings sponsored by Forum A. & A. Leysen. These important contributions are collected in Islam and Europe: Crises Are Challenges.

A common message emerges from the contributors and all their different points of view: only dialogue on the one hand between the West (countries that manifest themselves as Western Democratic constitutional states) and Islam, and on the other hand within and among societies historically identified with Islam will overcome entrenched confrontation and negative animosity. Such dialogue will engender new possibilities and understandings, and, by encouraging free and critical thinking, pave the way to social equity and the scientific innovation that may lead to more prosperity. In the course of the meetings all talks led to fascinating debates. This book includes the papers presented during the period January 2008 to January 2009. Although the question of how to actually construct the dialogue remains unsettled, this pioneering book takes a giant step toward an answer.

Contributors: Ahmed Aboutaleb; Durre S. Ahmed; A.S.A. Al-Saify; Mohamed Benzakour; Helge Daniels; Nadia Fadil; Silvio Ferrari; Marie-Claire Foblets; Fouad Laroui; Paul Lemmens; Rashida Manjoo; Ziba Mir-Hosseini; Bhikhu Parekh; Mathias Rohe; Cedric Ryngaert; Shaheen Sardar Ali; Prakash Shah; Paul Scheffer; Amina Wadud; Sami Zemni"