Science, not Hollywood or Starbucks, is America's best soft power

The US should pursue science diplomacy with Muslim-majority countries, which would complement efforts to promote human rights.

(Page 2 of 2)

It is certainly in the best interests of the US to foster relations with moderate majorities who today often find themselves locked in struggle with minorities of fanatics. Most people I met in the Middle East believe in Mr. Obama’s intentions, as laid out in his Cairo speech last year, and welcome the prospect of enhanced scientific and educational partnerships with the US. Yet some expressed skepticism. “Mr. Obama made a fine speech in Cairo,” one high-ranking official said to me. “But will the political climate in the United States, and particularly the US Congress, allow him to follow through on his promises?”

Related stories

We should begin by stressing three points that will enhance the prospects for success.

First, the US needs to define a coherent and comprehensive policy for pursuing science diplomacy with Muslim-majority countries. Despite many efforts by both public and private organizations, their initiatives remain fragmented.

Second, the focus of a better-integrated effort should be on improving education and fostering the scientific and technological infrastructure that will bring about genuine economic gains and social and political progress. One way to build human capital in science, for example, would be for the US to encourage and support the creation of relatively simple earth science labs in elementary schools, along with the teacher training necessary to stimulate curiosity about workings of nature. For older students, I propose a new program, “Reformation of Education and Development,” whose acronym, READ, would have special significance for Muslims, as it is the first word of the Quran. Through the READ program, the US would support the establishment of centers of excellence in science and technology that can serve as educational hubs for talented high school and university students throughout the region.

Third, these efforts must complement, not replace, US efforts to promote human rights and democratic governance in the Muslim world. The United States must also continue to pursue a just and secure two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and work toward freeing the Middle East from nuclear proliferation.

All these efforts would go far toward creating goodwill, catalyzing progress, and redirecting the region’s energies into new, constructive and mutually beneficial channels.

The soft power of science has the potential to reshape global diplomacy.

If the vision that Obama set forth in Cairo can be realized, history may one day record that speech as ushering in a period of transformative change. Americans like to say that actions speak louder than words, and action is what we need now.

Ahmed Zewail is an Egyptian-American scientist and the winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in femtochemistry. He is President Obama’s science envoy to the Middle East, and Linus Pauling Chair professor of chemistry and professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology. A longer version of the article will appear in the forthcoming issue of The American Interest.