The Circle of Tradition and Progress (COTP) was described as a:
…unique international association was established in 1997 consisting of distinguished Christian and Muslim scholars of conservative or traditionalist inclination committed to a common investigation of the permanent things. The association, the Circle of Tradition and Progress, recently held its second international symposium in London. The objective of the research, conferences and publications which the Circle projects is to reintegrate Mediterranean and Arab Islam within that Western world of which it long constituted an important part.
Members of the COTP Steering Committee included among others:
- Sheikh Youssef Qaradhawi (most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood)
- John L. Esposito (Georgetown University academic and Muslim Brotherhood supporter)
- Rachid Ghannoushi (Tunisian Islamist associated with Brotherhood networks)
- Bashir Nafi (Palestinian Islamic Jihad)
- Antony T. Sullivan (Center for Study of Islam and Democracy, Association of Muslim Social Scientists)
- Taha Al-Alawani (Fiqh Council of North America, IIIT, Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences)
- Louis Cantori (deceased, United Association for Studies and Research, Center for Study of Islam and Democracy)