Read our annual report 2023

Read our annual report 2023

EVENT

Video | Event series: National Dialogues at crossroads

National Dialogues x Protest Movements

A man lifts a pan with an image of Colombia's President Ivan Duque that reads "dialogue" during a  protest march combined with concerts as a national strike continues in Medellin, Colombia Dec 22, 2019. Challenges and opportunities of organising National Dialogues in the context of social protests. © picture alliance / REUTERS | David Estrada

Learn about challenges and opportunities of organising National Dialogues in the context of social protests from the launch event of our latest paper on this topic.


 

What are challenges for organising a National Dialogue process in the context of popular uprisings? What are opportunities for National Dialogues to be successful when active social movements are involved? At our event to launch the paper “National Dialogues x Protest Movements” we explored how protest movements can influence National Dialogue processes.

National Dialogues are nationally-owned political processes aimed at generating consensus among a broad range of national stakeholders. They can be implemented in times of deep political crisis, in post-war situations or during political transition processes that impact the society at large. During the event, experts and practitioners discussed dilemmas around the timing and “ripeness” of the situation for National Dialogues. Based on research conducted in Colombia and additional examples from around the world, we looked into the maximalist aims pursued by protest movements and how compromise can be achieved, and how new platforms can ensure societal engagement after the dialogue process. We explored suggestions on how to involve protest movements in the design, conduct and implementation of National Dialogues to allow for inclusive change.

Over the last two decades, National Dialogues have been increasingly recognised as a comprehensive tool for preventing violent conflicts and reaching inclusive political settlements. However, questions remain open on how to best integrate certain topics in the design of National Dialogues and how to meaningfully include specific societal groups. The series “National Dialogues at crossroads” aims at addressing this gap. It compiles lessons learned and recommendations on three cross-cutting issues: climate change, digitalisation, and protest movements.


Event series: National Dialogues at crossroads

National Dialogues x Protest Movements

7 December 2023
14:30 - 15:30 CET
(ics, ical)

Online event via Zoom.

This event was held in English.


Speakers included:

  • Isabel Bramsen, Director of Peace and Conflict Studies and Associate Professor at Lund University, Department of Political Science
  • Alexander Douglas, Deputy Regional Director – South and Southeast Asia, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
  • Hamzah Alkamaly, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports in Yemen

Moderated by Véronique Dudouet, Senior Advisor, Berghof Foundation.

 


Media contact

Florian Lüdtke
Media and Communications Manager
+49 (0) 177 7052758
email hidden; JavaScript is required