Dialogue of Civilizations

Dialogue of Civilizations refers to an international intellectual and policy initiative that developed into the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, an independent think tank headquartered in Berlin with representative offices in Moscow and Vienna. The institute conducts research and convenes public discussions on international relations, international security, intercultural understanding, economic development, infrastructure, terrorism, multipolarity, and the preservation of human values. The initiative emerged in the context of international efforts to promote dialogue among cultures and civilizations. Its background is associated with the United Nations' Global Agenda for Dialogue Among Civilizations and UNESCO's work on cultural diversity. In 2002, participants from Russia, India, and Greece established an international programme under the Dialogue of Civilizations name. The initiative's co-founders were Indian entrepreneur and futurist Jagdish Kapur, Greek-American businessman Nicholas F. S. Papanicolaou, and Russian public figure Vladimir Yakunin. The first major meeting took place on Rhodes, Greece, in September 2003. Held during the Iraq War and amid heightened concern about tensions between Christian and Muslim societies, the gathering produced the Rhodes Declaration, which called for continuing discussion about humanity's future and for dialogue to become a meaningful instrument of international cooperation. The annual Rhodes Forum subsequently became the initiative's best-known public platform, bringing together political leaders, academics, businesspeople, journalists, civil-society representatives, and policy specialists from multiple regions. The forum and the later institute have addressed subjects including the relationship between East and West, the development of a multipolar international order, migration, Islamist terrorism, inequality, Africa's development, digitalisation, high technology, multilateralism, peace, security, and international institutions. In 2008, a Dialogue of Civilizations summit was held at Vienna's Hofburg under UNESCO patronage, with discussions covering sociocultural development, Russia's role in a multipolar system, European Union–Russia relations, globalisation, and the emerging global financial crisis. The research institute was established in mid-2016 by Walter Schwimmer, Peter W. Schulze, and Vladimir Yakunin. It presents itself as an independent research organisation rather than a commercial consumer brand. Its analytical work includes an instrument known as the Index of Dialogue, intended to assess the tendency toward conflict in a particular area and the possibility that tensions may escalate into a hotspot. The institute's public profile is closely connected to the Rhodes Forum, which has been held annually since 2016 and has attracted participants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The organisation occupies a distinctive position in the international policy landscape. Its stated emphasis is on dialogue across civilizational, political, and regional boundaries, while its programmes frequently examine multipolarity and criticism of established Western-led analytical and institutional frameworks. Media coverage has highlighted the presence of Russian and Eurosceptic viewpoints at the Rhodes Forum, while also describing the event as a broad international conference with a wide range of participants. The available reference material does not establish a commercial ownership structure, stock-market listing, revenue figure, or consumer product portfolio.

The modern Dialogue of Civilizations initiative developed from international efforts to encourage intercultural understanding after the turn of the twenty-first century. Its intellectual background included the Global Agenda for Dialogue Among Civilizations adopted by the United Nations and UNESCO's work on cultural diversity. The initiative sought to turn the principle of dialogue into a continuing programme of public meetings, research, and international networking. In 2002, individuals from Russia, India, and Greece launched the Dialogue of Civilizations international programme. The named co-founders were Jagdish Kapur, an Indian entrepreneur and futurist; Nicholas F. S. Papanicolaou, a Greek-American businessman; and Vladimir Yakunin. The first session of the forum was held on the Greek island of Rhodes in September 2003, during the Iraq War and a period of heightened concern about relations between Christian and Muslim communities. Participants concluded that understanding among different civilizations remained inadequate and issued the Rhodes Declaration, which called for dialogue about humanity's future to become a substantive part of international cooperation. The Rhodes meeting established the basis for an international network of academics, political figures, businesspeople, civil-society representatives, and other advocates of dialogue. A related summit was held at Vienna's Hofburg on 10 November 2008 under UNESCO patronage. It brought together roughly 40 experts, politicians, and public figures to examine sociocultural change, Russia's place in a multipolar world, EU–Russia strategic relations, globalisation, and problems associated with the global economic crisis. The Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute was founded in mid-2016. Its founders were Walter Schwimmer, former secretary general of the Council of Europe; Peter W. Schulze, a political science professor at the University of Göttingen; and Vladimir Yakunin. The institute established its headquarters in Berlin and representative offices in Moscow and Vienna. Its research agenda covers international relations and security, East–West relations, terrorism, infrastructure development, alternative economic models, and the protection of human values. Since 2016, the Rhodes Forum has operated as the institute's principal annual conference. The 2016 meeting addressed mass migration, Islamist terrorism, and rising inequality, while attracting approximately 300 analysts, businesspeople, and politicians. Participants included figures associated with European scepticism, as well as former heads of state and international economic officials. Media commentary noted the forum's Russian and pro-multipolar orientation but also characterised it as a broad international conference rather than a narrowly controlled political event. The 2017 forum used the theme 'Multipolarity and dialogue in global and regional developments: imagining possible futures'. Its agenda included African development, reform of the United Nations, technological change, and digitalisation. The 2018 meeting, held on 5–6 October, was titled 'Making multilateralism work: enhancing dialogue on peace, security and development'. Speakers and participants included political figures from Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Israel, Germany, Greece, and Russia, together with researchers and policy specialists. The institute's distinctive analytical feature is the Index of Dialogue, designed to evaluate the propensity for conflict in a given area and the risk that a dispute may develop into a hotspot. The available material does not provide verified information on annual revenue, current senior management beyond the supervisory-board references, legal ownership, or a dedicated official website. Dialogue of Civilizations is therefore best understood as a policy-research and convening brand rather than a conventional commercial product brand.

• 2018

  Forum addresses workable multilateralism

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  The 2018 Rhodes Forum focused on dialogue, peace, security, development, and the practical functioning of multilateral institutions.

• 2017

  Forum expands focus to Africa and digitalisation

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  The annual forum examined multipolarity, African development, United Nations reform, high technology, and digital economic change.

• 2016

  Research institute established

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  The Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute was founded in Berlin and the Rhodes Forum became an annual institute event.

• 2008

  Vienna summit

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  A summit under UNESCO patronage addressed globalisation, sociocultural development, multipolarity, and EU–Russia relations.

• 2003

  First Rhodes Forum

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  The inaugural Rhodes meeting produced the Rhodes Declaration and established the forum's continuing international dialogue network.

• 2002

  International programme launched

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  Participants from Russia, India, and Greece created the Dialogue of Civilizations international programme.

• 2001

  International dialogue agenda gains institutional support

  [1]Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org

  UNESCO member states adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, while the United Nations advanced a Global Agenda for Dialogue Among Civilizations.

An independent international think tank and convening platform that promotes intercultural dialogue, multipolar perspectives, and research on global security, development, and international cooperation.

• International conference · 2003

  Rhodes Forum

  The Rhodes Forum is the initiative's recurring international conference and principal public platform. It brings together political leaders, academics, business representatives, journalists, civil-society organisations, and research institutions from several regions. Themes have included intercultural relations, multipolarity, migration, terrorism, inequality, African development, digitalisation, multilateralism, peace, and security.

• Research methodology

  Index of Dialogue

  The Index of Dialogue is an analytical tool associated with the institute's research. It is intended to assess the propensity toward conflict in a particular area and estimate whether tensions may escalate to a hotspot. The available reference material does not specify its complete methodology or published datasets.

• Policy research · 2016

  DOC Research Institute publications

  The institute's research activity covers international relations, international security, East–West relations, terrorism, infrastructure, alternative economic development models, human values, multipolarity, and the future of multilateral cooperation.

• 2016

  Institutionalisation as a permanent research instituteStrategy

  Background

  The earlier international Dialogue of Civilizations programme had operated primarily through forums and networking activities. A permanent institute was created to support continuing research and policy discussion.

  Action taken

  The Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute was established in Berlin, with representative offices in Moscow and Vienna and the Rhodes Forum as an annual event.

  Aftermath

  The organisation developed a more formal research identity while retaining the Rhodes Forum as its principal international convening platform.

  Source

1. 1Dialogue of Civilizationsen.wikipedia.org