Opening ceremony of the International scientific conference “Sociocultural opportunities of interfaith dialogue in multi-ethnic space of the European Orient” took place on May 23, 2013. It was organized by Kazan Federal University, Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan Republic, Russian Islamic Institute. Scientists from Kazakhstan, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Poland, Turkey, Netherlands, Lebanon, USA and some Russian cities took a part in this ceremony.
Vice-Rector of KFU for International Relations and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies and International Relations, Mr. Linar Latypov, welcomed the audience. “The main goals of the similar conferences are exchange of opinions and elaboration of common ideas,” – he said.
The first session of the conference was dedicated to inter-civilization dialogue study theory and concept as factors of sustainable development of the society. President of the Open International University of Dialogue among Civilizations, Prof. Mr. Farakh Sukheilya, noted that in terms of globalization we can observe destruction of fundamental values and uniqueness of cultures. Dollar is the main value in the contemporary world, which can be characterized by English language domination. We need to create conditions for equitable dialogue and partnership and elimination of reasons for conflicts, and at the same time to unite efforts in order to solve world, social and ecological problems.
Mr. Rafail’ Khakimov discussed the model of Tatarstan Republic in hierarchy of identities in sociocultural dynamics of society. He delivered results of opinion surveys about multiplicity of identities in Russia. Among them are ethnicity, devoutness, civic consciousness and cosmopolitanism. The destruction of identity leads to negative consequences, according to his opinion. “If we see “Arabic Spring” in the Arabic World, then we should wait for “Arabic Despotism”, – he noticed.
Delivered during the first session were reports of Ms. Julia Obidina from Mari State University, representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Marat Nadyrov, Prof. of Amsterdam University, Mr. Michael Kemper, Prof. German Myagkov and Mr. Rinat Nabiev from Kazan Federal University and etc.
The conference will last for 2 days and have 4 sections. Tomorrow the participants will discuss sociocultural potential of interfaith dialogue’s traditions, as well as ethno-cultural and theological grounds for ethno-confessional relations.