This is an interview with Dr Ismail Serageldin, which took place at The Institute of Ismaili Studies following his lecture on 'Modernisation and Cultural Identity in Islam' in March 2008.

Questions addressed in the interview:
1. How do you see the Library of Alexandria as influencing the Muslim identity in the age of the Internet?
2. What is your sense of freedom of expression in the Muslim world today?
3. Has the rich history of women's movements, especially artists and writers, made an impact on mainstream identity in Egypt, or is it mainly an elite phenomenon?
4. How do you see Muslim societies reinventing their traditions in the face of globalisation with its dominant western approaches?