For the IPPR [Institute of Public Policy Research] the world is still flat

.... The latest paper from the IPPR, Building Bridges, Not Walls, offers little new analysis when it comes to advocating engagement with Islamist groups in the Middle East and beyond. Essentially, it is a rehash of the tired ‘Moderate Muslim Brotherhood' argument ....

..... Similarly, despite the repeated protestations of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) that it is the largest - and therefore must representative - body of British Muslims, polling conducted by Populus for Policy Exchange in 2007 revealed that only 6% of British Muslims felt the MCB represented them. I suspect even that figure flatters them more than they deserve. [Standpoint] Read more

New IPPR report: ‘Fuck the Arabs’ During the last few years, the left-leaning Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank has built up an unenviable reputation on the tricky subject of engaging with Islamists. And for good reason. Previous IPPR papers have argued that hard-line British Islamists from groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood are our best allies against al-Qaeda because ’shared interests, if not ideologies, are paramount: it is not in our interests or theirs for terrorists to mount another attack.’ [Harry's Place] Read more See Also: [The Spittoon] Read

IPPR recommends 'Engaging with Islamists in the MENA region' Following on from the New Statesman’s publication last week of an exclusive interview with Khalid Mish’al, head of Hamas’ political bureau, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) today announces the release of a publication, ‘Building Bridges, Not Walls’, which argues that a ‘serious and sustained dialogue with non-violent Islamists across the Middle East and North Africa is essential if progress is to be made towards political reform in the region.’ [ENGAGE] Read more