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After September 11, American perspectives on Islam changed. The Islamic and Arab worlds suddenly became extremely relevant and seemed less distant, and understanding Islam and the Middle East gained new importance. In the wake of this increased awareness, Professor Richard Bulliet argued that what is needed is a rethinking of the “master narratives” that dominate the history of Islam-Christian relations.

Bulliet first explained his concept of an Islamo-Christian Civilization, a new master narrative that treats Western Christianity and the Islam of the Middle East and North Africa as similar in many ways. Throughout their shared history, a high level of cultural, intellectual and societal exchange has been masked by outbreaks of war and political violence. Around the turn of the first millennium, Islamic society permeated Europe, concurrent to the Crusades and other violence directed against the Islamic world; in modern times, Western culture has seeped into the Islamic world at a time when Arab hostility toward the West is expanding. Moreover, up until the 1500s, both Islam and Christianity had similar ideals: localized religion with services in the vernacular; a commitment to ending poverty and helping the poor; an emphasis on mysticism; and a militant and aggressive dimension.

Around 1500, the religions moved in different directions. The conventional master narrative states that this is the point where the Islamic world begins to stagnate while Europe moves ahead; however, the number of new converts to Islam shows this to be false. In Europe, religious law was marginalized, particularly by the Peace of Westphalia (1648), subsuming canon law to the nation-state system. Islamic society, to the contrary, integrated religious law into government: according to Islamic theory, government left to itself turns to tyranny, and Islamic law is needed to restrain governments.

Bulliet explained that the United States in modern times failed to support the “right” leaders. Instead of being drawn to moderate sectors of society—those looking for political inclusion without losing the importance of Islam—Americans have instead been drawn to pro-American, English-speaking, more radical leaders and ignored the realities of the region. The leaders Americans chose were more likely to be divisive figures and push the common people towards extremes. Bulliet believes that America should look more to a system that would resemble Western governments: a society in which pluralism reigns but religious beliefs impact law and governance.

Many of the problems in the Middle East: can be solved through liberalization and widening the political spectrum to include everyone, Bulliet concluded. Like the West, the Islamic world must combine the need for inclusion and pluralism with the importance of religious law. Islam must be changed – from within - to accommodate democracy and increased human rights. By examining our common traditions, both the Islamic and Christian worlds can expand and grow.