On 21 January the DOC Research Institute invited Dr. Rupert Graf Strachwitz, the CEO of the Maecenata Foundation, which houses the Maecenata Institute, to discuss mutual areas of interest and possible collaborations over lunch. With this new dialogue format, ‘DOC Brown Bag Lunch’, the DOC aims to deepen relations with Berlin-based think tanks and experts.
Founded in 1997, the Maecenata Institute aims to promote knowledge about civil society through academic and policy-oriented research, teaching, and publications. The Institute is engaged in strengthening Europe from the bottom-up, facilitating transnational donations and ensuring due diligence, and works to bring together civil society from Europe and Mediterranean countries. Over the course of his career, Rupert Graf Strachwitz has been appointed to several high-level expert committees, including the German Parliament Enquete Commission on ‘civil society and civic engagement’.
Based on mutual interest and ongoing project initiatives, the DOC and Maecenata agreed to deepen cooperation in the following areas through research projects, policy initiatives, and events:
- Seeking to understand the origins and consequences of rising civil unrest in a growing number of countries.
- Developing solutions for inclusive governance that recognise the role and the potential of contributions from civil society.
- Analysing the importance of the ‘trust factor’ (citizens’ views of their governments) in international cooperation.
- Understanding the role of civil society in addressing mega-trends, such as climate change, digitalisation, and migration.
- Organising and contributing to dialogue-based events, such as the EU’s Conference on the Future of Europe or events in the context of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
The DOC and Maecenata Institute also discussed jointly organising sessions and speakers for the Rhodes Forum 2020, to be held in Rhodes 2-3 October. (Graf Strachwitz joined Rhodes Forum for the first time in 2019, participating in two Leaders Club sessions and the Tunis Process meeting.)
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