Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798 triggered an avalanche of research about relations between the Islamic world and the West – as well as polemics and political, religious and cultural movements – that continues to this day.

In recent years, non-western countries have emerged or re-emerged as a major global force in economics, culture and politics. Their interactions with Muslim societies have become more intense and consequential than at any time at least since the heyday of the ancient Silk Road

This interaction and mutual influence is sure to increase over the decades to come. Yet this relationship has burgeoned so quickly that there is a striking imbalance between the impact of non-western countries on the Islamic world and vice-versa and the understanding of this impact among academics, policymakers and the public

The East-West Islamic Research Institute at the International Islamic University of Indonesia (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia – UIII) is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the multifaceted relationship between non-western countries and the Islamic world. EWIRI aims to foster a deeper appreciation of the historical, economic, political, and cultural dynamics shaping the interactions between these countries and Islamic societies, both within the academic community and among the wider public.