The 4th International Forum "In Search of Lost Universalism" took place in Berlin on 26-27 November 2018. Traditionally, the Forum provided the floor for prominent thinkers and practitioners and civil society representatives from different countries to address humanitarian issues and global challenges which have become increasingly common for modern societies these days, to share views and suggest ways to foster trust and civic engagement for positive changes on national and international levels. The Forum marked the beginning of a mission: to spread the ideals of civic society, the practice of discussing and teaching them, and to promote what Jean Monnet called “a civilized state of mind”.

Many discussions in different formats were covered, among others, topics such as Politics today, Economy and Fight with corruption, Climate and Migration. Keynote addresses were made by the Founder of Moscow School of Civic Education Lena Nemirovskaya, President of the Association of Schools of Political Studies Catherine Lalumière, chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Norbert Lammert , journalist Marco Politi, and other prominent speakers.

"In search of lost universalism" is a major civic Forum which starts from the presumption that there are many cultures – but one civilisation based on human rights, freedom, the rule of law and democracy. That civilisation needs to be constantly refreshed by conscious action and projects. After the devastation caused by the Second World War, important new international organisations were founded, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the World Council of Churches, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc. A universal perception of justice emerged, reflected in key international documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Social Charter, and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Programme

Video:

Address by Thornbjorn Jagland
Address by Catherine Lalumiere (in French)
Address by Ambassador René Nyberg
Address by Lena Nemirovskaya
Address by Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert
Marco Politi. Pope Francis: Caring About the Common Home
Panel 1. Today: Politics, Civics. Moderator: Kadri Liik (Estonia). Panelists: Ambassador Fredrik Lojdquist (Sweden), Thomas Gomart (France), Mikhail Minakov (Ukraine), Denis Volkov (Russia)
Panel 2. Today: Climate, Migration, Refugees. Moderator: Mikhail Fishman (Russia). Panellists: Guri Bang (Norway)), Despina Syrri (Greece), Svetlana Gannushkina (Russia)
Panel 3. Today: Economy, Countering Corruption. Moderator: Quentin Peel (United Kingdom). Panellists: Jacek Rostowski (Poland), Fredrik Erixon (Sweden), Elena Panfilova (Russia)
Opening Second Workday of the Forum. Mikhail Fishman, Yury Senokosov, Alexander Arkhangelsky
Panel 4: The Future Is Now. Moderator: Mikhail Fishman (Russia). Panelists: Ambassador O’Donnell (Ireland), Barbara von Ow-Freytag (Germany), Elena Zhemkova (Russia), Stefan Melle (Germany), Vytis Jurkonis (Lithuania)
Projects Launch: Confessions Against Corruption. Project by Ilia Shumanov and Marina Gureva (Russia)
Projects Launch: Center for Conflict Analysis and Transformation. Project by Alisa Shishkina and Leonid Isaev (Russia)
Project Launch: Rethinking Our History – Esimde. Project by Elmira Nogoibaeva (Kyrgyzstan), Georgy Chizhov (Ukraine) and Igor Isajew (Poland)
Project Launch. Confidence at School: Listening to Our Children. Project by Anna Shelia (Russia)
Project Launch: Freedom and Safety for Children. Project by Svetlana Shmeleva (Russia)
Yury Senokosov. A Message from the Forum
Closing remarks by Michael Mertes
Closing remarks by Yuri Senokosov