Observatory for Intercultural Dialogue

The Observatory for Intercultural Dialogue is the research branch of the Euro-Lebanese Intercultural Center (C.I.E.L.). It was set up to accompany the Masters program in intercultural mediation.

Its principal activities include gathering and analyzing information related to the themes of the Masters program. The Observatory regularly organizes conferences, seminars and discussions on these same themes.

 

A center for interdisciplinary research

Our primary interest is to search out the multiple senses of the notion of interculturality and to grasp its many facets by addressing the subject from a variety of disciplines (political science, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, linguistics, and jurisprudence) in order to discern its pertinence and utility in so many practical situations and different professions such as business, school, university, public institutions, non-governmental organizations and scientific research.

For this, we collaborate with the professors, researchers and specialists from different national and professional horizons in order to awaken in them an awareness of interculturality and to create the synergies propitious for its practical and theoretical development.

 

A space for meeting, discussion and improvement

 

We organize during the university year, weekly meetings for discussions, seminars and conferences on subjects of contemporary importance and interest from an intercultural perspective. Experts, professors and eminent members of civil society are invited to discuss these various subjects from an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach with openness and respect for differences.

The themes chosen are closely related to those of the Masters program in intercultural mediation. These activities enrich the formation of the students by assuring openness and exchange with a larger public.

Une base de donnée sur l'aire arabo-islamique

 

We have access to an important data base of socio-cultural affairs in the Arab Middle East going back to 1973, compiled by researchers in the Center for the Study of the Modern Arab World (CEMAM). That data base should be on line soon. Presently it may be consulted at CEMAM situated in the Campus for Human Sciences at USJ.

The Observatory is building up a second data base of documents and dossiers related to its research activities.