Philosophers discuss the big issues of our times:

Istanbul Seminars 2010 will analyze the cultural significance of dialogue and integration in pluralistic societies. Are there public strategies to support mutual understanding between different cultures? Does religion help or divide? Can cultural conflicts and tensions catalyze engagement and reciprocal learning processes? How to contribute to build a liberal and pluralistic world: Europe and Turkey are both part of the challenge.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
10.00 a.m. – 10.20 a.m.   Official Greetings 

Ferda Keskin, Istanbul Bilgi University and Nina zu Fürstenberg, Director of Reset-Dialogues on Civilizations

10.20 a.m. – 10.45 a.m. Introduction

Dialogue on Civilizations in Istanbul Giancarlo Bosetti

10.45 a.m. – 11.45 a.m. Opening lecture: Nilüfer Göle
Chair: Giancarlo Bosetti

12.00 p.m. – 1.30 p.m

Abdou Filali-Ansary The Value of Pluralism in Societies with Prevailing Religious Worldviews

Gil Anidjar: Medieval Spain and the Integration of Memory

Chair: Volker Kaul

3.00  p.m. – 3.45 p.m.           

Fred Dallmayr: Religion, Politics and Islam: Toward Multiple Modes of Democracy

Thursday, May 20, 2010

10.00 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.            

Robin Celikates and Stefan Gosepath :Freedom of Expression in Pluralist Societies - Its Justification and Political Point 

Matthias Kettner Internet-based Public Spheres - A Cultural Resource for Democratic Pluralism?

Chair: Giovanna Borradori

12.00 p.m. – 12.45 p.m.

Roberto Toscano: Questioning Democracy

Chair: Francesco Margiotta Broglio

Round Table: Religion: an Integrating or Dividing Source? 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.              

Opening: Ibrahim Kalın, Participants: Sadık Al-Azm, Fred Dallmayr, Abdou Filali-Ansary

Closing: Ahmet Davutoğlu (tbc)

Chair: Roberto Toscan

Friday, May 21, 2010

10.00 a.m - 11.30 a.m.          

Ramin Jahanbegloo: Democratic Governance and the Challenge of Religious Pluralism in Muslim Societies

Irfan Ahmad: Islam and Democracy: Some Anthropological Reflections

Chair: Nina zu Fürstenberg

11.45 a.m. – 1.15 p.m.

Albena Azmanova: Against the Politics of Fear: On Deliberation, Inclusion, and the Political Economy of Trust

Maeve Cooke: Translating Truth: Can Truth Speak Across Cultural Difference and If So, How

Chair: Murat Borovalı

2.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Seyla Benhabib: Human Rights, International Law and Democratic Iterations

Alain Touraine: Common Citizenship and Cultural Pluralism

Chair: Alessandro Ferrara

Saturday, May 22, 2010

10.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.

Ulrich Steinvorth : Human Rights in the West and in Islam

Sebastiano Maffettone:

Liberal Post-Colonialism?

Chair: Emrah Efe Çakmak

11.45 a.m. – 1.15 a.m

Stephen Macedo: Civic Education, History, and Truth: Recognizing and Repairing National Partiality

Zygmunt Bauman: Migration and Identities in the Globalized World

Chair: Ferda Keskin

Round table: Pluralism in Europe and the Accession of Turkey to the EU 6.00 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.

Egemen Bağış (tbc), Zygmunt Bauman, Alain Touraine, Edgar Morin (tbc)

Chair: Giancarlo Bosetti

Sunday, May 23, 2010

11.00 a.m. – 12.30 a.m.

Susanna Mancini: Unveiling the Limits of Tolerance: Constitutional Secularism and the Challenge of New and Old Fundamentalisms

Alfred Stepan: The Multiple Secularisms of Modern Democratic and Non-Democratic Regimes

Chair: David Rasmussen

2.00 p.m. – 2.45 p.m Edgar Morin (tbc)

Monday, May 24, 2010

10.00 a.m. – 10.45 a.m

Yirmiyahu Yovel: The Other Within: the Marranos. Split Identity and Emerging Modernity

11.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m

Cengiz Aktar : A Muslim Member of the European Union

Sadık Al-Azm: Turkey, Secularism and the EU: A View from Damascus

Chair: Barbara Henry

Round Table Global Modernities, Foreign Policy and Identity 1.45 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.              

Particpants: Yeşim Arat, Dilek Kurban, Umut Özkırımlı, Soli Özel, Roberto Toscano

Chair: Fuat Keyman

3.30 p.m.

Closing Halil Güven, Rector of Istanbul Bilgi University

The following program might be subject to changes. Please consult our websitewww.istanbulseminars.orgfor possible changes.

İstanbul Bilgi University – Santral Campus

Eski Silahtarağa Elektrik Santralı

Kazım Karabekir Cad. No: 2/13 34060

Eyüp/İstanbul

Seminar Room: Santralistanbul Main Gallery, 4th Floor