Mohd Rosli

Global Movement of Moderates Foundation

The Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) is a new approach in international relations and foreign policy, with the main goal of applying perspectives and frameworks of moderation to realize world peace and harmony. The idea of GMM was articulated by Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak in 2010, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. According to him "The real divide is not between Muslims and non-Muslims or between the developed and developing worlds. It is between moderates and extremists." GMM is a revitalization of an age-old philosophy, idea and thought. It is centred on the values and principles of moderation, which have deep roots in various cultures and civilizations.The notion of moderation itself appears to resonate among many of the world's cultural and spiritual traditions. Examples are, in the Islamic concept of wasatiyyah, which means "moderation", "middle path" and "balance"; and in the Confucius doctrine of the mean: chung yung, which means "middle path". These are only a few of many different ways in which the rich and varied spiritual tapestries of the world seem to be connected by the thread of moderation. A more operational and pragmatic understanding of moderation is that it is "a set of values and behaviour that is morally, socially and culturally acceptable", and GMM seeks to operationalize this as a foreign policy concept by advocating for values and networks of moderation to foster a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable society. The centre stage of international affairs had been dominated by elements of extremism for too long, and GMM was envisioned as a platform for the silent moderate majority to present a united front in exploring, formulating and implementing effective and compelling ways to counter the spread, influence and consequences of extreme views and actions.