Achieving greater understanding together

Relations between Western and Islamic societies are often dominated by misunderstandings and stereotypes. Moreover, in most Islamic countries, Islamism, an ideology aiming to imprint the laws of Islam on state and society has become more popular in recent years. The political concepts of democracy, universal human rights and pluralism are often rejected as "Western" and by extension "un-Islamic".

The dialogue aims to promote understanding between the West and the Islamic world as well as pluralism in society and also tries to counter anti-Western stereotypes and prejudices in Islamic societies. Germany was the first Western country to make dialogue with the Islamic world a political focus in the Federal Foreign Office in 2002. A Special Representative for Dialogue among Civilizations was appointed, a post currently held by Ambassador Heidrun Tempel. She advises all levels of the Federal Foreign Office and is supported by a division that coordinates a network of linguistic experts and other specialist desk officers for dialogue at the German missions in the Islamic world. The desk officers have the task of reporting on the importance of Islam and Islamism in the host country, finding local partners for cooperation and negotiating concrete projects with them.

Projects and exchange programmes

Approximately four million euro are made available annually for projects and exchange programmes. The vast majority of these funds are distributed through partner organizations that work in the field of cultural relations and education policy such as the Goethe-Institut, the German Academic Exchange Service and the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations.

Schools and education as well as working with young people are among the dialogue's priorities. Further emphasis is placed on events that stimulate discourse within society in Islamic countries.

Communicating in the local language is the key to reaching the target groups. The new Islamic-oriented elite who have been educated in local institutions are thus being addressed directly through projects in their native language and, in addition, it is possible to carry out more projects in rural areas. In many countries, women and young people have no knowledge of Western languages. Publications, workshops, film festivals, the website www.qantara.de as well as that of the German Information Centre in Cairo are popular now that they are available in Arabic.

external link, opens in new windowwww.qantara.de

external link, opens in new windowGIC Cairo

The dialogue in Islamic countries can no longer be separated from the dialogue with Muslims in Germany. The roughly three and a half million Muslims living in Germany have come to play a significant role in the country's public discourse. Since September 2006 the German Islam Conference has served as a forum for regular dialogue between the Federal Government, Länder (federal states) and municipalities and representatives of the Muslim community.

More and more people in the Islamic world recognize and appreciate that Germany has a real interest in the region.

Dialogue with the Islamic world is one of the pillars of a long-term strategy for conflict prevention. A stable Islamic world as a neighbouring region is in Europe's interest and increases the security of all. Cultural dialogue with the Islamic world does not have to mean we all agree. But to open the way for peaceful coexistence in a spirit of mutual respect, the relevant issues have to be properly addressed.

Applications requesting funding for projects within the framework of the European-Islamic Intercultural Dialogue can be submitted to Division 604: Intercultural Dialogue, Dialogue with the Islamic World at the Federal Foreign Office. Decisions on financial support are made on the basis of a criteria catalogue developed specifically for the programme.

Last updated 18.03.2011