Speaking about the current situation in the Arab world, the Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and an advisor to the Egyptian Prime Minister in matters concerning culture, science and museums, highlighted growing concerns of the population about the inability of their governments to respond to their aspirations. Dr Serageldin pointed out the role of the Arab Spring in 2011 and the profound crisis that the Arab and Muslim world is currently in, with the emergence of divisions in many of its societies.

In his exposé, Ismail Serageldin tried to explain what pushes young Europeans to join the ranks of Da’ish, the so-called “Islamic State” in Iraq and Syria. He shared his views on the origins of and the solutions to the terrorism that currently threatens the West. He identified a split between the Muslim and non-Muslim world, where high levels of resentment flow from the former towards the latter. In that context, he paid special attention to the explosive situation among young Muslims who often feel alienated from mainstream societies, their marginalisation, unfulfilled promise of the western lifestyle, distinct feelings of being considered second class citizens, unaddressed grievances and other issues. This resentment becomes a figurative accumulation of fuels that awaits only a spark or two to be set ablaze. This is indeed a fertile ground for indoctrination of young Muslims and for their recruitment by extremists.

Serageldin sees five main historical-societal currents that act as such sparks and push a new, youthful wave of Muslims into the hands of Da'ish. In this vein, he speaks of a need to change the religious, public and cultural discourse in our countries in the West; but also of the alliance that must be created on both sides of the Mediterranean to confront the mounting threats of extremism and violence. Serageldin looks at the reasons for the recruitment of so many young Europeans and explains how such affiliation and belonging can create a feeling of liberation and of new empowerment for young people who previously had few prospects.

In his view, terrorism shall be ultimately defeated through cultural confrontation, defeating extremist ideas with ideas of openness and pluralism.The teaching of different historical narratives could be a solution to ensuring democratic security on both sides of the Mediterranean.

  Concept paper for Council of Europe Debates on Democratic Security

  Biography of Dr. Ismail Serageldin

  Interview at Council of Europe TV Journal on 1 June 2015

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