World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations” is an international nongovernmental European-based organization which supports and develops dialogue among civilizations since 2003 and enjoys the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Consultative Status since 2013.
The history of the forum dates back to 2002 when civil society representatives from different countries organized the International Program “Dialogue of Civilizations”. WPF “Dialogue of Civilizations” has become a practical realization of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) resolution on a “Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations” accepted on November 9th, 2001, on the initiative of former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Khatami. Founders of the Forum are late Jagdish Kapur (1920-2010), Indian entrepreneur, social scientist, futurist and Vladimir Yakunin, Russian public figure, Doctor of Political Sciences.
The objective of the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilzations” is to combine the efforts of the international community in protecting humanity’s spiritual and cultural values, to organise constructive dialogue between the contemporary world’s major civilizations and to promote multilateral relations in all spheres of public life. The Forum’s various activities are designed to develop, enhance and disseminate the culture of dialogue, bringing the spirit of cooperation and understanding into the daily lives of people from different cultures.
WPF is working with state, public and religious institutions based on the implementation and development of the principles of cooperation, mutual understanding and dialogue among civilizations. Currently, the activity of the WPF DoC is focused on intercultural dialogue according to the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (IDRC) programme of UNESCO, as well as developing of alternative concepts of world order, such as Chinese dream, Trans-Eurasian Belt Development and world order, based on dialogue of cultural and historical traditions.
Among the partners of the WPF are such organizations as International Organization of Progress, International Movement for a Just World, Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, leading Universities and research centers of the world such as Carleton University, London School of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, etc.
WPF DoC brings together a network community of scientists, intellectuals, politicians, diplomats, businessmen, art and culture figures, representing the diversity of traditions, cultures and beliefs from around the world, among them are Zygmunt Bauman, winner of the European Amalfi Prize for Sociology and Social Sciences, Saskia Sassen, American Sociologist and economist, Jan Figel, Slovak and European politician, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth trough 2004-2009, Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe in 1999-2004, Alfred Guzenbauer, former Chancellor of Austria, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Austria, member of the Austrian Parliament (since March 1991), Milos Zeman, President of Czech Republic, Matthias Platzeck, German politician, Chairman of the German-Russian Forum, Pascal Alan Nazareth, Ambassador (Retd) and other.
In 2016 WPF DoC is being transformed into a think tank – Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, founded in Berlin, Germany.