Islamic Coalition
Robin Wright is to be congratulated for her incisive article, “Birth of a New Islam Coalition†(Opinion, Dec. 7), which captures the vision of an economic union among Islamic countries as the 10-nation revival of the Economic Conference Organization is being pursued. The major incentive for this revival lies in rational calculation on the part of the Islamic countries to connect their economies to the ongoing globalization process and benefit from economic development. Because those countries that stay out will fall behind.
The real problem is to find compatibility and coexistence between the globalization movement and these nations’ cultural, religious and social imperatives. Chances are that compromise and compatibility will be found by tackling issues collectively under the aegis of a regional union rather than individually by each nation. While the movement has a long way to go, it points to the right direction. Let us hope that it will gain momentum.
NAKE M. KAMRANY
Professor of Economics
USC
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
