Rhodes Forum

XV Anniversary Rhodes Forum

WHERE
Sheraton Rhodes Resort
Ialyssos Avenue, Ixia, Rhodes 851 00, Greece

WHEN
Friday to Saturday
October 6 to 7, 2017

ABOUT RHODES FORUM 2017

The 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum took place from 6-7 October 2017 in Rhodes, Greece

For 15 years Dialogue of Civilizations has been at the forefront of research into dialogue-based solutions to the problems we face. Today, momentum is building around dialogue as a way of effecting real change in how we view economic growth and societal development. Be part of this dynamic debate – join us at the 15th Rhodes Forum.

The Rhodes Forum has convened each year since 2002, gathering between 300 and 600 participants annually from over 70 countries. Throughout its history, its hallmark has been the pioneering spirit, inclusiveness, and moral resilience of its participants in their work to tackle the problems we face.

The Rhodes Forum provides a platform for prominent business people, policy-makers, and scholars to engage in wide-ranging debate on the most pressing issues on the international agenda

This year’s Rhodes Forum will comprise overarching themes through which participants will explore social, economic, and political issues. In addition, two focal events will be the Summit on Globalisation and the Future of Democracy, and the Summit on Global Infrastructure Development Scenarios: Where the Interests of Banks, Industries, Governments, and Societies Meet, in which thought leaders from civil society, politics, and the business community will come together to discuss concepts, problems, and solutions to key questions.

SPEAKERS

Senior officials, members of the international academic community and business elite, representatives of international non-governmental organisations, diplomats, experts from various fields from all over the world.

Vladimir Yakunin

Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute, Head of the State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Moscow State Lomonosov University

George Chatzimarkos

Governor of the South Aegean Region

Goodluck Jonathan

President of Nigeria (2010-2015)

Dioncounda Traoré

President of Mali (2012-2013)

Dominique de Villepin

Prime Minister of France (2005 - 2007), Founder of Villepin International

Ian Goldin

Professor of Globalisation and Development, Oxford University, Vice-President of World Bank (2003-2006)

Vaclav Klaus

Founder of the Václav Klaus Institute, President of Czech Republic (2003-2013)

Yu Keping

Dean of the School of Government, Peking University, Director of the Research Center for Chinese Politics, Peking University

Walter Schwimmer

Secretary General of the Council of Europe (2004-2009), Co-Founder of the DOC Research Institute

Jan Figel

Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the European Union, European Commission; European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth (2007-2009); European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism (2004-2007)

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PROGRAMME & SCHEDULE

Our Forum is evolving. The upcoming Rhodes Forum will have a packed agenda and a tighter schedule.

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We always want to improve the substance and format of our agenda. What is missing? Share your thoughts and help us develop an innovative, inclusive, dialogue-based, and thought-leading platform, our contact e-mail is rhodes@doc-research.org or leave your comments on Facebook

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Day 1
Oct 6, 2017
09:00
WELCOME ADDRESSES
Speakers:
George Chatzimarkos, Governor of South Aegean Region
Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute, Head, State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Moscow State Lomonosov University

09:00 - 09:30
09:30
OPENING PANEL: “MULTIPOLARITY AND DIALOGUE IN REGIONAL AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS: IMAGINING POSSIBLE FUTURES”
Moderator(s):
Jean-Christophe Bas, Founder and President, The Global Compass

Speakers:
Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria (2010-2015)
Dominique de Villepin, Prime Minister of France (2005 – 2007), Founder of Villepin International
Dioncounda Traoré, President of Mali (2012-2013)
Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, Oxford University, Vice-President of World Bank (2003-2006)
Natalya Kaspersky, President of the “InfoWatch” Group of Companies

09:30 - 11:00
The 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum provides time and space for reflections on the achievements and challenges of the Dialogue of Civilisations Paradigm in the current global environment. The panel’s work is aimed at discussing the possible scenarios that humanity should work towards in order to achieve a sustainable, peaceful, and balanced state of world affairs in future. The Rhodes Forum has proved to be an unbiased platform that enables people around the world to work together through the fundamental principles of dialogue, to develop applicable analyses and practical solutions for national and international policy-makers and institutions. The Rhodes Forum stands firmly by the idea that open, mutually respectful, and equitable dialogue will be the fundamental prerequisite for effective cooperation and partnership between civilisations for years to come.
Where
Hall: Imperial Ballroom
11:00
SUMMIT 1: GLOBALIZATION AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY
Moderator(s):
Vaclav Klaus, Founder of the Václav Klaus Institute, President of Czech Republic (2003-2013)

Speakers:
Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe (2004-2009), Co-Founder of the DOC Research Institute
Jan Figel, Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the European Union, European Commission; European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth (2007-2009); European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism (2004-2007)
Ruben Vardanyan, Impact Investor and Social Entrepreneur
Abouzar Ebrahimi Torkaman, Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) Iran
Yu Keping, Dean of the School of Government, Peking University, Director of the Research Center for Chinese Politics, Peking University
Julia Kinash, President of the Youth Time International Movement, Czech Republic
Andrei Klepach, Deputy Chairman (Chief Economist) – Board Member, Vnesheconombank of Russia

11:00 - 12:30
Concept Note: The global financial crisis of 2008 has clearly shown that existing economic models fall short of expectations, while slow, non-inclusive economic growth and the decline of global trade demonstrate that self-regulated open markets haven’t become the growth engine for economies that were expected. At the same time, existing models of global governance fail to provide vision for an inclusive future. In connection with the lack of inclusive internal policies, populist parties increasingly gain political influence. The summit engages prominent thought leaders, representing society, politics, and business community, in developing mechanisms and approaches that could lay foundations for a new model of solidarity based on dialogue, which would offer paths toward inclusive economic development and profoundly new forms of global governance worldwide. In this way, popular unrest and dissatisfaction could be diminished and the future of democratic systems could be sustained.
Political
Where
Hall: Imperial Ballroom
12:45
PRESS CONFERENCE
14:30
SOCIETY PANEL #1 CHALLENGES: SOCIAL MOBILITY AND MIGRATION: THROUGH THE PRISM OF VALUES AND CULTURES
Moderator(s):
Brunson Mckinley, Former Director General, International Organization for Migration
Anne-Marie Buschman-Petit, Co-Chair, Association for International Mobility (Switzerland)

Speakers:
Vaclav Klaus, Founder of the Václav Klaus Institute, President of Czech Republic (2003-2013)
Demetrios Papademetriou, Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
Anatol Lieven, Professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Qatar
Ivan Juric, Programmes and Operations Advisor, John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation
Catherine Walsh, Senior Professor; Director of the Doctoral Program, Latin American Cultural Studies

14:30 - 16:30
Society
Where
Hall: Ariadne
14:30
ECONOMIC PANEL #1 CHALLENGES: IMPACT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND DIGITALIZATION ON SOCIETY
Moderator(s):
Eva Kaili, Member of the European Parliament for Greece, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Rob van Kranenburg, Co-Founder of Bricolabs and the Founder of Council, largest independent #IoT Thinktank

Speakers:

David Gorodyansky, CEO & Co-Founder of AnchorFree, Inc.
Spiros Margaris, Venture Capitalist and Founder of Margaris Advisory
Jens Wendland, Cultural and Media Science Specialist, Lecturer at the University of the Arts and Humboldt University, Berlin
Wolfgang Pinegger, Owner and CEO of GloBra FZ – LLC
Natalya Kaspersky, President of the “InfoWatch” Group of Companies
Vinod Pandey, Head of Government Affairs, BMW Group India

14:30 - 16:30
Concept Note: New technologies and the digital economy are able to foster the economic development of both developing and developed countries, by increasing productivity and removing barriers to entry. Nevertheless, without global collaboration and government involvement, the digital economy could aggravate existing social problems and increase the gap between developing and developed regions, and urban and suburban areas. The benefits of new communication technologies and the digital economy are not equally shared (the so-called digital divide) and are mostly enjoyed by those living in tech-friendly urban areas. In the coming years, this divide could be sharpened, and opportunities to move up the income ladder and improve productivity will be strongly connected with the access and the ability to make good use of digital infrastructure. This panel will make steps forward with discussions of the digital economy and new technologies, with a focus on particular sectors of society. The panelists will debate the role and value of the digital economy in providing strong foundations for dialogue, governance, and commerce, as well as its possible impacts on society.
Economic
Where
Hall: Imperial Ballroom
16:45
POLITICS PANEL #1 CHALLENGES: NEVER AGAIN: PEOPLE’S DEMAND FOR A NEW GLOBAL SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
Moderator(s):
Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe (2004-2009), Co-Founder of the DOC Research Institute

Speakers:
Vladimir Yakunin , Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute, Head of the State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Moscow State Lomonosov University
Hans Köchler, President of the International Progress Organization
Sergey Markedonov, Associate Professor at Russian State University for the Humanities Russian International Affairs Council
Piotr Dutkiewicz, Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center for Governance and Public Policy at Carleton University
Kumiko Haba, Professor at Aoyama Gakuin University, Vice President of the International Studies Association
Claude Béglé, Member of Swiss Federal Parliament

16:45 - 18:45
Concept Note: As conflicts between major powers pose an increasing risk to political stability and global security, concepts involving geopolitical pluralism and global governance are becoming an ever more vital cornerstone of the global security architecture. The world is being pushed to the brink of new armed confrontations, and the memory of World War Two, as well as other major twentieth century conflicts, leads the world community to raise its voice against the mere possibility of a new global war. Possible concepts enabling better cooperation between major powers and other crucial stakeholders in common global and regional security shall be highlighted during this panel. Its participants will focus on ongoing and potential conflicts, and will particularly deal with strategies and approaches for overcoming tensions, for example, in the Middle East, and mitigating the risks of possible confrontation, for example, in Eastern Europe, as well as identifying possible terrorist threats worldwide and developing new peacemaking solutions.
Political
20:00
SPECIAL ADDRESSES AT OPENING CEREMONY: RHODES OFFICIALS
Speakers:
H.E. Cyril Kogerakis, Metropolitan of Rhodes
Fotios Chatzidiakos, Mayor of Rhodes
Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute, Head of the State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Moscow State Lomonosov University
Zhengyue Hu, Vice President, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation

20:00 - 21:00
Where
Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes

Day 2
Oct 7, 2017
10:00
ECONOMIC PANEL #2, SOLUTIONS: ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC MODELS – CURBING INEQUALITY
Moderator(s):
Fred Harrison, Executive Director, Land Research Trust, London
Manuel Montes, Senior Advisor on Finance and Development at the South Centre in Geneva

Speakers:
Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, Oxford University, Vice-President of World Bank (2003-2006)
Vladimir Popov, Research Director in Economic&Political Science, DOC Research Institute
Jayshree Sengupta, Senior Research Fellow, Observer Research Foundation (India)
Daisuke Kotegawa, Former Director to IMF from Japan
Holger Heims, Managing Partner, Falcon Group (Switzerland)

10:00 - 12:00
Concept Note: The issues of poverty, social injustice and economic imbalance between the developing countries and the rest of the world, the frustrations of wide sections of the world’s population will continue to fuel destructive political and social emotions, unless a viable and lucid alternative economic model, capable of curbing inequalities, will be negotiated, designed and introduced. The standard metrics, such as GDP and overall economic growth, don’t fully reflect the quality of living; a broader range of indicators including the quality of education and infrastructural development should be taken into account to get the full picture of the economic development, as in fact these indicators have greater impact on the quality of living. Domestic inequalities are on the rise both in countries of the Global South and North; it could be taken as a reason for the rise of populistic parties in recent years and could be regarded as hampering economic growth. The panel aims to address non-mainstream economic models and approaches that are able to foster an inclusive and sustainable development.
Economic
10:00
POLITICS PANEL #2 SOLUTIONS: BEYOND THE WORLD OF CLASHES: TOWARDS A MULTIPOLAR ORDER
Moderator(s):
Raffaele Marchetti, Senior Assistant Professor, Joint Appointment at the Dept. of Political Science and the School of Government, LUISS University

Speakers:
Jia Qingguo , Dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University
Peter W. Schulze , Co-founder of the Dialogue of Civilisations Research Institute, Professor, Political Science Department, Georg-August University of Gőttingen
Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent
Adrian Pabst, Reader in Politics and Director of the Centre for Federal Studies, School of Politics and IR, University of Kent, UK
Alexey Malashenko, Chief Researcher, DOC Research Institute
Alexander Dubowy, Coordinator, Research Centre for Eurasian Studies; Fellow, Center of Polemology and Legal Ethics at Faculty of Law, University of Vienna

10:00 - 12:00
Concept Note: The unipolar world order is gradually evolving into a multipolar world order. As many globalised conflicts may be traced back to internal conflicts, it is crucial to address questions of political and economic discrimination, and other forms of exclusion, and to find a suitable solution that prevents conflicts emerging in the first place. Building a multipolar world order has the potential to prevent conflicts without the domination of one single hegemonic power, and has the potential to bring about sustainable peace. This panel is devoted to the question how this multipolar world order may look and how it can be achieved. In addition, in a globalised world, sustainable development and security go hand in hand, as the effects of environmental destruction have the potential to cause conflicts over scarce resources. Moreover, these conflicts could lead to forced migration, which in turn could destabilise regions or countries of destination. Another way to address the security challenges the world is facing today is to focus on internal policies and security.
Political
12:10
SOCIETY PANEL #2 SOLUTIONS: CHALLENGES TO HUMANITY: TRADITIONALISM VS. POSTMODERNITY
Moderator(s):
Natalia Yakunina, Chairman, Board of Trustees, “Sanctity of Motherhood” All-Russian Program (Russia)
Larry Jacobs, Managing Director, World Congress of Families

Speakers:
Jean-Christophe Bas, Founder and President, The Global Compass
Brian Brown, President, World Congress of Families
Fred Dallmayr, Packey J. Dee Professor, Departments of Philosophy and Political Science, University of Notre Dame
Irina Nikitina, President of the Musical Olympus Foundation in Saint Petersburg
Igor Ashmanov, Managing Partner, “Ashmanov and partners”
Shrerto Gill, Executive Secretary and Research Fellow of the Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace
Theresa Okafor, Director of the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage

12:10 - 14:10
Concept Note: The human society seems to be lost in titanic changes of contemporary world. The process of globalisation without dialogue may increase the probability of a uniformity and degradation of core civilisational values. The reaction to this alarming trend is identified by public requests to reassert the importance of national cultures, traditions, and value systems. There is a need to formulate a new set of universal values, based on principles of dialogue, that include traditional family values, compassion, social unity, individual rights along with individual responsibilities. This new approach could fix problems of mutual enmity, which often occur due to a severe lack of knowledge about other cultures and nations. Dialogue should become the alternative universal platform to avoid clash of civilizations, and should be applied to all spheres of human activity. The panel will discuss the definition of contemporary human identity crisis at the period of transaction from modern to postmodern era, degradation of Humanity and rise of new barbarism and awareness of the danger for social manipulations with usage of highly sophisticated IT instruments.
Society
Where
Hall: Imperial Ballroom
15:30
SUMMIT 2: GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS: WHERE THE INTERESTS OF BANKS, INDUSTRIES, GOVERNMENTS AND SOCIETIES MEET
Moderator(s):
Dimitris Psarrakis, Economic & Monetary Policy Advisor at the European Parliament
Djoomart Otorbaev, Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic (2014 – 2015)

Speakers:

Vicky D. Kefalas, Investment Committee Member, European Fund for Strategic Investments, European Investment Bank
Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute, Head of the State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Moscow State Lomonosov University
Dimitris Psarrakis, Economic & Monetary Policy Advisor at the European Parliament
Li Xiguang, Director Tsinghua University International Center for Communication (China)
Richard Werner, Professor of International Banking, University of Southampton
Santhosh Jayaram, Partner & Head, Climate Change & Sustainability, KPMG
Andrei Klepach, Deputy Chairman (Chief Economist) – Board Member, Vnesheconombank of Russia

15:30 - 17:30
Concept Note: This panel will explore the most ambitious current projects for reaching regional cooperation agreements on economic, political, and governance issues. Its participants will take advantage of the economic cooperation projects between the United States, European Union, Russia, China, and Asia, like the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the One Belt – One Road (OBOR) initiative. The focus of this panel should also be to explore possibilities for how Public Private Partnerships (PPP) can contribute to the infrastructure development goals of the aforementioned countries, as well as bringing together the interests of banks, industries, governments, and societies.
Economic
Political
Society
Where
Hall: Imperial Ballroom
17:45
DOC REFLECTION AS A GLOBAL THINK TANK
Moderator(s):
Jiahong Chen, Research Director in Social and Cultural Studies, DOC Research Institute
Vladimir Popov, Research Director in Economics & Political sciences, DOC Research Institute

Speakers:
Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute, Head of the State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Moscow State Lomonosov University
Peter W. Schulze , Co-founder of the Dialogue of Civilisations Research Institute, Professor, Political Science Department, Georg-August University of Gőttingen
Alexey Malashenko, Chief Researcher, DOC Research Institute
Vladimir Popov, Research Director in Economics & Political sciences, DOC Research Institute
Raffaele Marchetti, Senior Assistant Professor, Joint Appointment at the Dept. of Political Science and the School of Government, LUISS University
17:45
EUROPE'S REFUGEE CRISIS: CRISIS RESPONCE FROM RHETORIC TO REALITY
Moderator(s):
Mary Dejevsky, Writer and broadcaster

Speakers:
Fintan Drury, Veteran journalist, businessman and volunteer
Jana Boulus, Programme Coordinator with Humanity Crew
Lucy Popescu, Writer, editor and critic with a background in human rights
20:00
CLOSING CEREMONY

VENUE LOCATION

Sheraton Rhodes Resort
Ialyssos Avenue, Ixia, Rhodes 851 00, Greece

Sheraton Rhodes Resort is within a few minutes’ drive of the island’s most famous sights and attractions. The Old Town, Palace of the Knights and the Acropolis are only 4 kilometers from the resort and 18 minutes by car from the airport.