Centuries of conflict, cultural exchange and ideological struggle have shaped the relationship between Islam and the West. Understanding the historical narratives that have defined this relationship is essential to addressing the tensions we face today as the West continues to navigate the challenges of the modern world. We are honoured to welcome Raymond Ibrahim, an acclaimed author, columnist and Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, to our next Budapest Lecture. Our guest, author of Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam, will guide us through the critical historical moments and narratives that have shaped the interactions between Islam and the West, from the early encounters of the Middle Ages to the ongoing geopolitical struggles of today. Ibrahim will share his expertise on the subject and offer insights into how historical events continue to influence modern political dynamics, religious debates and societal challenges. He will also reflect on how these historical narratives have been weaponised in today's polarised discourse, and what this means for the future of Western civilisation. This lecture will not only shed light on the past but also draw critical conclusions about how understanding these historical narratives is key to navigating the ideological and cultural battles of our time. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the historical roots and contemporary implications of the complex relationship between Islam and the West.

Language: English

Program

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM                                        Moderated discussion

  • Raymond Ibrahim, Expert on the Middle East and Islam; Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Middle East Forum
  • Moderator: Ralph Schoellhammer, Head of the Center for Applied History and International Relations Theory at MCC

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM                                        Q&A

 

BIO

Raymond Ibrahim is a widely published expert on the Middle East and Islam, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Friedman Rosen Fellow at the Middle East Forum. He received his B.A. and M.A. (both in History, focusing on the ancient and medieval Near East, with dual-minors in Philosophy and English) from California State University, Fresno. He also took graduate courses at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies—including classes on the history, politics, and economics of the Arab world—and studied Medieval Islam and Semitic languages at the Catholic University of America. 

He has a diverse background, having worked as an Arabic language and regional specialist at the Library of Congress, where he supported defense and intelligence personnel in counterterrorism and area studies. He also served as the associate director of the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia.

He supports the work of institutions like the National Defense Intelligence College, and the U.S. Strategic Command. He provides expert testimony in Islam-related lawsuits and has testified before Congress on issues related to American discourse on Islam and the challenges faced by Christian minorities in the Islamic world.

His books include Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood against Islam (Bombardier,2022); Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West (Da Capo, 2018); Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians (Regnery, 2013); The Al Qaeda Reader (Doubleday, 2007).