The economic influence of the Muslim middle class is growing rapidly - but is it enough to transform the often rocky relationship between the Islamic world and the West? International security organizations often focus their resources on fighting the threat of Islamic fundamentalism, but some say that behind the scenes, upwardly mobile Muslim entrepreneurs and their expanding base of consumers are providing the much-needed stability and prosperity that could ultimately extinguish any appetite for extremism. In this episode of Riz Khan, we ask: How is the rise of the Muslim middle class affecting prospects for peace in the Middle East? Joining Riz in Washington is Vali Nasr, professor of international politics at Tufts University. Nasr also serves as a senior advisor to U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke, and is the author of the new book "Forces of Fortune - the Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World."
