Draft Statement 'Alliance for Dialogue'
(launched during the Dialogue in Political Affairs webinar on July 13th 2023)
WHY
Challenges in international affairs
The post-Cold War era and unipolarity are over. The rising new world brings a wide variety of values in the forefront of international relations and increases the risks of conflicts and wars. The peaceful shaping of the new world order, growing competition and rivalry necessitate the application of additional, new communication tool between states seeking to pursue their own values and demands the introduction of additional elements in the multilateral decision-making mechanisms for jointly setting the rules which handle tensions, address emerging challenges and build a safe and free world.
Challenges in societal affairs
Lack of Mechanisms and Cooperation
The challenges could be addressed effectively by translating the culture of dialogue into daily practice. At present, however, dialogues are conducted randomly, on ad hoc basis at both national and international levels. Development of local capacities, including the training of teachers is exceptional. Moreover, the dialogue practitioners act in relative isolation, their community is fragmented. Although dialogue is an instrument for ensuring cohesion, inclusion and prevention it does not constitute an organic part of either the decision-making procedures or the national education. Neither national nor international mechanisms of dialogue are in place. That is particularly relevant in the case of entities who represent controversial values, perspectives, let alone views considered as extreme by the public discourse and mainstream politicians.
WHAT
WHO
“Controversial dialogue” is conducted between individuals and entities representing diverse, confrontational, occasionally extreme identities, ideologies, values and views. The “dialogue events” are designed and implemented by dialogue facilitators.
HOW
INFOGRAPHICS- Listening skills: Hear what people are really saying
The figure shows five techniques to improve your active listening skills! Click here.
PUBLICATION- Negotiations, dialogue and mediation: Which approach leads to intra-state peace?
The blogpost of the Berghof Foundation explores the differences of dialogue, negotiation and mediation. Click here.
PUBLICATON- Check-in / Check-out
The summary of Hyper Island emphahises the importance of Check-in/Check-out during dialogue facilitation. Click here.
VIDEO- Brené Brown on Empathy
The short video displays the differences between empathy and sympathy. The former is a useful skill for dialogue participants. The latter is known as a tool that the dialogue facilitators ought not to use. Click
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PUBLICATION- A Guide for Training Public Dialogue Facilitators
The project of The Paul J. Aicher Foundation provides useful examples of exercises that can be used as teaching facilitators or ideas for facilitators to implement in their own sessions. Click here.
PUBLICATION- What’s in your pocket?
Publication of Sarah Pharaon on ‘pocket phases’, that help the facilitator to deepen participant understanding of themselves and of each other, also known as pocket. Click here.
PUBLICATION- The Dialogue Handbook
It describes every aspect of a dialogue: from explaining the essence of dialogue, to providing useful tips on leading a workshop. Click here.
PUBLICATION- The role of strong emotions in Dialogue
Publication of the Essential Partners which explores the facilitator's role in case of participants expressing strong emotion. Click here.
PUBLICATION- Building empathy: The Fishbowl Conversation
The Fishbowl Method explained by Dean Pribetic can be used during the dialogue by the facilitators as a tool to enhance empathy. Click here.
PUBLICATION- Helpful Questions for Dialogue Facilitation
The list of the Program on Intergroup Relations provides a list of questions from which facilitators can choose from in case they get stuck in a difficult dialogue to facilitate. Click here.
PUBLICATION- The future of transitional justice
Berghof Foundation held it’s first ‘dialogue on transitional justice’ to read the main takeaways, click here.
INTERVIEW- Every voice matters for peace on the Korean Peninsula: Kim Jeongsoo on Korean women’s role in making peace possible
Click here to access the interview with Kim Jeongsoo about the Ulaanbaatar (dialogue) Process.
BLOG POST- The language of dialogue
What happens when we translate ‘dialogue’ across languages? To find out, click here.
PRESS RELEASE- Dialouge in Somalia
To acess the press release about the expert dialogue workshop on Strengthening Women’s Role in Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Processes in Somalia, click here.
PUBLICATION- Guide to facilitating dialogues
To read the guide about useful tools for facilitators, click here.
PUBLICATION- From humanitarian worker to peacebuilder: What I've learned
To read the story of Yara El Moussaoui, click here.
VIDEO - Women and Youth in India and Pakistan Against Violent Extremism
The participants of the dialogue event describe their experiences in the short video,
.
BLOG POST - Youth empowering each other through dialogue
The blogpost displays the opinion of three young peacebuilders and their experiences in promoting youth participation in dialogue, click here.
VIDEO -Interview with Salmon Zaga
The interview shows the insights of Salmon Zaga, the participants of the second Latin America Dialogue,
.VIDEO - Interview with Ivan Ransom
The interview with Ivan Ransom, a participant of the second Latin America Dialogue shows the insights of the interview about the opportunity,
.VIDEO - Dialogue for Peace in Cameroon
Participants of the dialogue seminar in Cameroon share their experiences and call for the need of further dialogue in Cameroon,
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PUBLICATION - Making new connections instead of new borders
Steinar Bryn, the senior adviser at the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue describes his experiences as a dialogue facilitator in the Balkans, click here.
PUBLICATION: National Dialogue in Sudan: Past Experiences and Current Challenges
The publication of Atta El-Hassan El-Battahani explanes the way how dialogue and other peace processes were used in Sudan, click here.
PUBLICATION: Public attitudes in Japan towards peacebuilding and dialogue with armed groups
The Conciliation Resources and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation have conducted a survey which partly dealt with the Japanese attitude towards dialogue. This short video summarizes the key findings of the survey,
. The full analysis is available at this link, click here.
VIDEO CONFERENCE- Is dialogue enough?
Huda Abuarquob and Meredith Rothbart explores the role of dialogue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and whether dialogue is enough to promote peace and better relations between Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israeli and Palestinians.
.She shares her experience as a Dialogue Facilitator and how she became engaged with Dialogue. Click here.
VIDEO- The Experiment Digital Facilitators & Peer Mentors
The young facilitators share their experience in facilitating dialogue in a digital format.
here.
ARTICLE - Community dialogue in Somalia
The article displays how the International Committee for the Development of Peoples (Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli, CISP) implemented a dialogical approach during their work in Mogadishu and what lessons should be drawn from that experience. Click here.
ARTICLE-From humanitarian worker to peace builder: What I've learned
The work of Sara, an 18-year-old Rwandan is especially important regarding dialogue. Click here.
ARTICLE- Education: A Stepping Stone to Peace in Egypt
Khaled Emam's efforts in Egypt include creating a place for the local where dialogue is possible. Click here.
VIDEO- Importance of dialogue in conflict prevention and peacebuilding
Meri Joyce explains how dialogue is an important tool used in NorthEast Asia. Click
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VIDEO- ‘Culture of Dialogue’ as a Decolonial Peace-Building Tool: The Case of Colombia
Lucía Mesa-Vélez introduces the findings of her research on dialogue and peace-building in the framework of the Colombian organization called Rodeemos el Diálogo (Embrace Dialogue, ReD). Click
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VIDEO- Nansen Dialogue Centre (NDC) Mostar
The short video demonstrates the importance of dialogue in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the relationship of the different ethnic groups are still fragile. Click
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PUBLICATION- Improving prospects for peace through Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue
The initiative of Conciliation Resources, brings together civil society, officials and experts from both sides of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. Click here.
VIDEO-Why is dialogue important in peacebuilding?
Contributors from the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation explain why dialogue is an important tool in peacebuilding. Click here.
VIDEO-The Anatomy of Dialogue: Conflict is NOT a Threat
Dr. Laurie Mulvey and Dr. David Holloway during the first part of the series explain the nature of conflict. Click
VIDEO- The Community Dialogue Approach
The Malaria Consortium developed a method, called the Community Dialogue Approach, that combines elements of dialogue and consulting to improve the health and welfare of the participants. Click
.