"To discover to the world something which deeply concerns it, and of which it was previously ignorant; to prove to it that it had been mistaken on some vital point of temporal or spiritual interest, is as important a service as a human being can render to his fellow creatures..."
John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty"
Much of the debate and conflict in the Middle East today is cast as the battle between tradition and modernity; what's still refereed to as a "clash of civilizations." But what if looking at the world this way is precisely what is causing its problems? What if understanding the unity between tradition and modernity could, in fact, bring about a whole new paradigm for finding peace? This notion, along with the increasing empowerment of woman, is the core idea of the work being done by Isobel Coleman, of the Council on Foreign Relations and outlined in her book Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women Are Transforming the Middle East.
