Parrish-Sprowl, JohnBousmaha, FarahGoering, Elizabeth M.Dobris, Catherine A.2015-01-202015-01-202014https://hdl.handle.net/1805/5677http://dx.doi.org/10.7912/C2/467Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)While the Arab spring succeeded in ousting the long-term dictator led governments from power in many Arab countries, leading the way to a new democratic process to develop in the Arab world, it did not end the old suspicions between Arab Muslims and the West. This research investigates the beginning of the relations between the Arab Muslims and the West as they have developed over time, and then focuses its analysis on perceptions from both sides beginning with 9/11 through the events known as the Arab spring. The framework for analysis is a communication perspective, as embodied in the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM). According to CMM, communication can be understood as forms of interactions that both constitute and frame reality. The study posits the analysis that the current Arab Muslim-West divide, is often a conversation that is consistent with what CMM labels as the ethnocentric pattern. This analysis will suggest a new pathway, one that follows the CMM cosmopolitan form, as a more fruitful pattern for the future of Arab Muslim-West relations. This research emphasizes the factors fueling this ethnocentric pattern, in addition to ways of bringing the Islamic world and the West to understand each other with a more cosmopolitan approach, which, among other things, accepts mutual differences while fostering agreements. To reach this core, the study will apply a direct communicative engagement between the Islamic world and the West to foster trusted relations, between the two.en-USIntercultural communication -- 21st century -- Research -- Middle EastIntercultural communication -- 21st century -- Research -- Africa, NorthIntercultural communication -- 21st century -- Research -- Western countriesMiddle East -- Politics and government -- 21st centuryDemocratization -- Middle East -- History -- 21st centuryAfrica, North -- Politics and government -- 21st centuryDemocratization -- Africa, North -- History -- 21st centuryArab Spring, 2010- -- ResearchEast and WestCommunication -- PhilosophyCommunication -- Social aspectsContent analysis (Communication)September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 -- Influence -- ResearchMeaning (Psychology)Western countries -- Relations -- Islamic countriesIslamic countries -- Relations -- Western countriesSocial perception -- Research -- AnalysisEthnocentrism -- ResearchCosmopolitanism -- ResearchMass media -- Political aspects -- Western countriesIslam in mass media -- ResearchIslamophobiaPublic opinion -- United StatesPublic opinion -- Europe, WesternThesis