 
The Rumi Forum in collaboration with
the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs at Georgetown University, cordially invites you to the conference: |
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Civil society is not only important; it is an essential part of the proper functioning of the state. Acting as a link, civil society helps to initiate, promote and strengthen comprehensive and objective dialogue between governments and their people. In such a way, civil society fosters conflict resolution, advances human rights and promotes better democratization processes in countries. Moreover, because of its flexible, multidimensional and non-rigid structure, civil society has the capability to constantly adapt to rapid global changes. The purpose of the conference is to gain a better understanding of the role of civil society in the functioning of the state, and advancement of democracy and universal human rights.
Conference Program
Registration & Breakfast ~ 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks ~ 9:00 a.m. Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs Emre Celik, Rumi Forum PANEL I ~ 9:15 to 10:30 a.m.: “Civil Society, Democratization and Conflict Resolution” Moderator: Jonathan Landay, McClatchy News Marina Ottaway, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace “Civil Society and Democratization: Which Civil Society?” Joshua Foust, American Security Project "Foreign Bias in Local Governance in Central Asia" Angel Rabasa, RAND Corporation (To be updated) PANEL II ~ 10:35 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: “Civil Society and Peacebuilding and Education” Moderator: Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs Mohamed Nimer, American University "Gulen's Soft Power Approach: Lessons for Arab Political Reform" Bilal Wahab, George Mason University “Civil Society in Iraq: Homegrown or Market Response?” Stanley Kober, Cato Institute (To be updated) Break - Light Lunch Refreshments Provided ~ 12:00 to 12:15 p.m. PANEL III ~ 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.: “Case Studies: The Importance of Civil Society” Moderator:(To be updated) Catherine Cosman, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom "Religious communities in Post-Soviet States" Mehmet Kalyoncu, Independent Analyst “Building Civil Society in Ethno-Religiously Fractured Communities” Alisher Khamindov, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University "International Donors, Civil Society and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Central Asia" Closing Remarks ~ 1:30 p.m. Click here to see full Bios and Synopsis |
