European policies seldom reflect the pluralism that characterise Europe’s everyday life in its heterogeneous societies. More often than not, decision makers in the European Parliament and other EU bodies enact policies reflecting narrow national and worldview interests. Thus, European policies on issues such as religious pluralism, remembrance culture, or LGBTQI* rights lack the perspectives of those change agents who make up Europe’s future – which is why we aim to bring twenty of our most engaged and active alumni*ae and current participants together to address this hiatus.
In a first step in early June, the participants will go through a thorough, outcome-oriented methodological online workshop with an experienced writer and editor. There, the participants will acquire the know-how and the crucial skills necessary in order to issue a joint Policy Paper aimed at e.g. European decision makers, NGO advocates and journalists.
Our second step will be to bring our participants together at the inspiring facilities of The Abbey Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, UK in late October. There we will intensely reflect on how to use the knowledge gained in methodological workshop in order to make us of these technical means with in-depth yet poignant content. Policy Papers serve as a medium to get the audience in focus interested in our analysis and proposals, initiating further discussion, exchange, and ultimately, the implementation of our goals on the policy level. We are thus taking the next step towards concrete policy advocacy in order to further sustain our work and bring about change.
˝DialoguePerspectives enabled me to meet people with diverse backgrounds and different worldviews – many inspiring encounters and interesting discussions will stick with me forever. If you want to meet other young academics from all over Europe, reflect on your own identity and widen your horizon - apply!
Hicham, DialoguePerspectives participant