Winning the War of Ideas

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse, Georgetown University, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy

Abstract

We are indeed engaged in a battle for hearts and minds within the Muslim world. New media tools allow extremists ideologues to communicate their message with great effectiveness. Hearts and minds will be won or lost one person, one community at a time. In order to defeat extremism, the US and international community must call upon citizen-statesman to aggressively advocate the ideals of liberty and freedom within their own communities and spheres of influence.