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New Agora Berlin

Muslims: Partners in Dialogue 

The crisis of a multicultural society is being discussed more and more often. Nowadays, we are facing new waves of refugees and immigrants, close contact with Islam and other cultures, the return of the old national and religious traumas. Moreover, we are witnessing the rebirth of the attitudes hostile towards the other, hostile towards sharing common values and common life in a culturally differentiated society. 

Therefore, one can fear the total decline of agora in the modern multicultural democratic societies. We pride ourselves with cultural diversity and act so as to preserve distinct identities. However, is there still agora present and the culture of dialogue which accompany her? If not, how is then the rebirth of agora possible? Do we need "New Agora" at all? Would it not be in contradiction with strong emphasis on diversity and distinction? What are the sources of the contemporary crisis of multiculturalism and what are the possible ways out? These are some of the main questions for the Symposion in Berlin to be raised.

Organizers 

Borderland Foundation, Sejny, Poland 
The Federal Union of German-Polish Associations, Berlin, Germany 
German-Polish Magazine DIALOG, Berlin, Germany

Official Partner

The House of Brandenburg-Prussian History, Potsdam, Germany 
People and Place

These are but a few of crucial questions and issues the Symposium New Agora is dedicated to – an assembly of distinguished representatives of humanistic reflection of our time. The Symposium New Agora brings this time together 10 orators, distinguished representatives of the humanistic reflection from various countries. 

The Symposium takes place for 4 days in Potsdam, the capital city of the state of Brandenburg with a unique cultural landscape and a place where the afterwar Agreement was signed by the victorious Allied powers.


Topics and speakers

Historical and cultural heritage of Islam and Europe (November 27, 2009) 
This day will be devoted to exploring and disussing, in lectures and debates, the historical and cultural links connecting Islam (both as culture and religion) and Europe. We will talk about the Muslims presence in Europe through the centuries. We will also consider general questions connected to intercultural dialogue as such – how it can be understood and practised. 

The participants of our debate on these issues will be: Mustapha Tlili, Moha Ennaji, Selim Chazbijewicz and Krzysztof Czyżewski

Prospects and threats for intercultural dialogue: interreligious dialogue (November 28, 2009) 

We will explore examples of, prospects and threats for dialogue with the Muslims, reflecting sometimes on the history, but focusing mainly on contemporary situation. A special part will be devoted to interreligious dialogue as one of the most sensitive issues in the relations of the West and Muslim worlds. 

These questions are of special importance for the future model of a multicultural society. The cultural tensions and conflicts in Europe with a Muslim population of over 20 million (more than 15 million living within the borders of the EU) are likely to be increasingly rooted in religion. Can religion be helpful in neutralizing these conflicts? If so, then how? What role can religion play in the building of civil society? 

The participants of the debate will be: Moshe Shner, Fatima Sadiqi, Krzysztof Czyżewski and Basil Kerski. 

How to build neighbourhood together with the Muslim immigrants in Europe? Case studies, e.g., Berlin, Birmingham, Mostar, Rotterdam (November 29, 2009)

We will consider the ways how a "neighbourhood" (common space/society) can be built together with the Muslim immigrants in Europe. Here the concrete examples and case studies from the places throughout Europe will be presented. Special attention will be given to Berlin, as one of the main borderland cities in Europe. 

The participants of this debate will be: Faouzi Skali, Isabella Thomas, Huso Oručević, Krzysztof Czyżewski and Basil Kerski.

Aims 

  • 'New Agora' Symposion will increase the competence and knowledge of the participants invited to the project about the limits and prospects of intercultural dialogue, as well as the practical ways of implementing this dialogue. Lectures delivered by the distinguished speakers will provide them with better understanding of the broad social and cultural contexts they work in. 
  • The meeting will stimulate and support co-operation between people who in various countries and various fields of life are engaged in initiatives supporting dialogue with Muslim-Islam communities. A special attention will be given to involving the participants into a network of co-operation, and to maintaing contacts with them after the Symposion. 
  • The meeting will help to inspire new ideas, areas, and methods of work. They will be presented during the Symposion(presentations delivered by the participants), and also after it, due to the website and DVD. 
  • The "practitioners" will be multiplicators of the project and its results in their local communities. 


Language 

The official language of the New Agora in Berlin is English.

Projekt wspierany przez Fundację Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej.
Gefördert aus Mitteln der Stiftung für deutsch-polnische Zusammenarbeit.
This project has been funded with support from the Foundation for the Polish-German Cooperation.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.