Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute's 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum 2017 Convenes

RHODES, Greece, October 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

DOC Research Institute ("DOC", or the "Institute"), an independent international think tank headquartered in Berlin, announces that the 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum 2017, 'Multipolarity and Dialogue in Regional and Global Developments: Imagining Possible Futures' has begun.

This event, traditionally a centrepiece in the DOC year, brings together leading experts from government, business, and academia to discuss pressing global issues. It runs from 06-07 October, 2017.

This year's Rhodes Forum is pleased to welcome a number of high-profile figures from Africa, including the Honourable Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria 2010-2015, and Dioncounda Traoré, President of Mali 2012-2013. They will be joined on the opening panel by Dominique de Villepin, Prime Minister of France 2005-2007, Natalya Kaspersky, Head of the InfoWatch Group of Companies, and by Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalization and Development, Oxford University, Former Vice President of the World Bank.

First convened in 2003, the Rhodes Forum brings together concerned members of the international political, business, civil society and academic communities in a spirit of dialogue and inclusivity. Every year, hundreds of participants from more than 70 countries explore the major challenges facing the world and seek concrete, applicable solutions rooted in shared values of equality, mutual respect and compassion.

Taking as its theme 'Multipolarity and Dialogue in Regional and Global Developments: Imagining Possible Futures', this year's 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum also hosts two focal events: a Summit on Globalisation, Dialogue, and the Future of Democracy; and a Summit on Global Infrastructure Development Scenarios.

Panel discussions on the first day include the 'Impact of New Technologies and Digitalisation on Society', 'Social Mobility and Migration: Through the Prism of Values and Cultures', and 'Never Again: Demands for a New Global Security Architecture'.

On the second day, discussions will include a session on 'Alternative Economic Models - Curbing Inequality', and the focus on migration will continue in the form of a practice-based discussion 'Europe's Refugee Crisis: Crisis Response from Rhetoric to Reality'.

About the DOC

The Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute is an international think tank that researches and develops proposals to address key challenges faced by the international community today.
Committed to seeking dialogue-based solutions to humankind's most pressing issues, the DOC builds on the legacy and expertise of the World Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations. We bring together global thought leaders from academia, public policy, business, and civil society in order to foster debate, share experiences, and develop sound policy recommendations.

The idea of a public forum that would promote dialogue as a means of easing and preventing conflicts, contrary to the theory of an imminent clash of civilizations, followed the adoption of key documents by the UN. On 9 November 2001, UNESCO Member States unanimously adopted the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, and the UN General Assembly presented its Global Agenda for Dialogue Among Civilizations. These resolutions laid out principles of intercultural dialogue and laid the basis of the DOC.

The World Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations (WPF), the predecessor of DOC, was founded to advocate for this initiative and help implement its objectives. The WPF was founded in 2002 by Indian entrepreneur and visionary the late Jagdish Kapur, business leader and philanthropist Dr. Vladimir Yakunin, and the businessman Nicholas F.S. Papanicolaou. The WPF has enjoyed UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Consultative Status and regularly collaborates with UNESCO.

The DOC is an independent, non-partisan think tank, and receives no government funding. 

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SOURCE Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute