Berlin Fourm: In search of Lost Universalism

Seminar calendar

From Tuesday, 26 November 2019 - 10:00
To Wednesday, 27 November 2019 - 9:00

The 5th International Forum "In Search of Lost Universalism" took place in Berlin on 27-28 November 2019. 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 Media and Politics, the Role of International Organisations, Economy and Clobal Space, Why do we need Global European Space. Keynote addresses were made by the Founder of Moscow School of Civic Education Lena Nemirovskaya, Deputy Secretary-General and Head of the European and International Cooperation Department of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Gerhard Wahlers, Diplomatic Adviser at the Office of the Federal President of Germany Thomas Bagger, 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.