Dialogue among the civilizations: the role of universities

Abstract

Global society in the twenty first century is profoundly marked by global mega trends. The emergence of knowledge-based economy, the rise of digital divide and the universal pursuit of peace are just some of the definitive trends shaping the world. We are in the midst of rapid change throughout the early twenty first century, an irreversible process which every nation state are part of. Indeed, paraphrasing Mark Twain, we are in the best of times and in the worst of times. Modernity by itself does not procure peace and freedom as we have experienced recently. The tragedy of the World Trade Center, the unending war of attrition in the Middle East and the continuing conflicts between a few nation states point to the delicate balance of stability and global peace that we are enjoying. Certainly much work must be carried out by many quarters to ensure everlasting peace and global prosperity. The question is, what kind of work is it that can contribute to the survival of humanity and everything it stands for? Obviously many things can be done, from passing affirmative legislatures to loving our neighbors. What is important is a focused, sustainable effort that can solves particular problems. There is no single medicine that can cure all ailments. The discussion in this paper revolves around the necessity of having a dialogue, as a first step or more precisely, as the very least meaningful activity that could be done to ameliorate the present global perceived insecurity following the few tragic incidents. The first part of the paper consists of the Malaysian experience in realizing civilization dialogue.