This CDI Annual Address delivered by Dr Surin Pitsuwan, former Foreign Minister of Thailand provides a thought provoking asessment of Islam's ability to promote democracy in the age of globalization and modernity. Dr Surin believes the success of Muslims in Thailand to effectively embrace modernity and globalization was due to the 'openness' and flexibility of the Thai system. He sees the system in the Middle East as more internally focused and inflexible. Dr Surin calls upon the West to transfer what has been achieved, developed and innovated back into the Muslim world in order to complete the loop of knowledge formerly safeguarded by the Islamic world.