War of Ideas:
Combating Militant Islamist Idealogy

Ariel Cohen

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the United States finds itself in an intense competition for hearts and minds. This time, it is competing against radical Islamic fundamentalists for the support of the Muslim world. This is a struggle against those who seek the demise of the United States, its allies, and its core values.

The battle for hearts and minds is not a short-term campaign but a key dimension of a protracted conflict. To win this battle, the United States should formulate an integrated strategy of public diplomacy and political action. This campaign will not be fought against states, but against radical organizations and governments that support Islamist political violence. The United States should focus on the information and media battlefields, which are as important as the conventional military aspects of the conflict.

In cooperation with moderate Muslims, the United States can encourage the strengthening of Islam as a tolerant faith and counter the militant ideology that destroys lives and hinders economic development. Force of arms alone will not achieve this goal, for the challenge is philosophical, cultural, and political.

Ariel Cohen is Research Fellow at the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies at The Heritage Foundation.