"A real solution to the rise of Islamic extremist movements can only come from within the Muslim world." Javier Gil Guerrero, researcher of the project 'Religion and Civil Society' of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra, made these statements on the occasion of the defense of his thesis , 'Opening Pandora's Box: Jimmy Carter, The Persian Gulf and the Rise of Militant Islam (1977-1981)'(Abriendo la caja de Pandora: Jimmy Carter, el Golfo Persa y el auge del Islam militante (1977-1981).

Javier Gil has studied American foreign policy during the term of Democratic President Jimmy Carter, focusing especially on the Persian Gulf. In addition to analyzing the foreign policy of Jimmy Carter, American Democratic president 1977-1981, in the Persian Gulf, he has also delved into the rise of 'militant Islam'.

"That region needs some secularization, but we have to be careful in the process so as not to get just the opposite reaction," he explained. The doctor of history reflected that Islam has not gone through a process like the Enlightenment in Christianity, which served to reduce religion to a more tolerant and private sphere. "Without betraying its faith, radical Islam should rethink new formulas for coexistence or dialogue with it," he said.

On the other hand, from agreement with the researcher of the ICS, the West should give voice and support to those moderate, democratic, secular and more liberal forces that emerge in that region: "Western intervention should not be a one-off military action, but should be accompanied by a long-term economic, social and diplomatic plan deadline". In his opinion, it is a matter of "building a society". 

Radical movements: common enemy of the U.S. and Iran

Regarding the period he has studied, Javier Gil indicated that "in those years there are several movements and social revolts, and in all of them the common denominator is the role of religion as a driving force of discontent, of revolt against the status quo of the countries". All this led to a diplomatic crisis between the US and Iran that continues to this day: "American foreign policy is still aimed at containing Iran".

However, although Iran's isolation and economic sanctions continue, Javier Gil stressed that there is also a point of meeting: "The rise of Al Qaeda and radical Sunni movements such as the Islamic State have made the US and Iran, which has a Shiite majority, have a common enemy".

The thesis was directed by Professor Santiago Aurell, director of high school business and Humanism and professor of department of History. After the defense, the ICS sent a copy to the U.S. Embassy in Spain.