Forward Thinking: Difference between revisions
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'''Forward Thinking''' is a charitable organisation addressing issues related to |
'''Forward Thinking''' is a charitable organisation addressing issues related to the Middle East peace process and religious/secular dialogue. |
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== Aims and |
== Aims and Programmes == |
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It has three main aims |
It has three main aims<ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?page_id=75]</ref> |
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* To promote in the UK greater understanding and confidence between the diverse grassroots Muslim communities and the wider society including the media and the British establishment |
* To promote in the UK greater understanding and confidence between the diverse grassroots Muslim communities and the wider society including the media and the British establishment |
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* To promote a more inclusive peace process in the Middle East |
* To promote a more inclusive peace process in the Middle East |
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* To facilitate a global dialogue between the religious and secular worlds |
* To facilitate a global dialogue between the religious and secular worlds |
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and |
and three main Programmes |
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* The UK Programme |
* The UK Programme |
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* The Middle East |
* The Middle East Programme. |
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* The Nyon Process |
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=== The UK |
=== The UK Programme === |
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The UK Programme aims to help Muslim communities engage with the "establishment" and the wider society without losing "faith identity". Its work involves providing capacity building support to Muslim charitable organisations at both a local and national level.<ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?id=14 Forward Thinking: UK Programme]</ref> |
The UK Programme aims to help Muslim communities engage with the "establishment" and the wider society without losing "faith identity". Its work involves providing capacity building support to Muslim charitable organisations at both a local and national level.<ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?id=14 Forward Thinking: UK Programme]</ref> |
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=== The Middle East |
=== The Middle East Programme === |
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The Middle East |
The prime focus of Forward Thinking's work in the Middle East is to promote a more inclusive peace process through dialogue with key Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders and political/religious leaders who previously had been unengaged. Forward Thinking works to engage with those who are perceived as religious or political "hardliners, in the belief that a durable peace agreement in the region requires the full participation of all political and faith-based leaders at each stage of the process <ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?id=15 Forward Thinking: Middle East Initiative]</ref> |
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=== The Nyon Process === |
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The Nyon Process is a project of dialogue-to-action facilitated by Forward Thinking and supported by a number of a number of European governments that seeks to engage four key constituencies at the intersection of religion, politics, and social activism: |
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*Foreign policy advisors and analysts from Western European Governments |
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*Foreign policy advisors and analysts from the United States |
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*Religio-political activists from the United States and Europe (particularly Evangelical Christians and Muslim activists) |
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*Religio-political activists from the Mena region |
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The aim is to bridge the gap that exists between religious and secular worldviews that sometimes lead to misguided or ill-informed policy-making. <ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?page_id=409]</ref> |
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== Staff == |
== Staff == |
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Forward Thinking's co-founder and director is Oliver McTernan. Mr McTernan was a visiting fellow of the [[Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs]] at [[Harvard University]] 2000-2003 and is a senior associate fellow of the [[Defence Academy of the United Kingdom]]. He was responsible for initiating the first post-conflict talks between [[NATO]] and the former [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] government. His book Violence in God’s Name explores the role of religion in an age of conflict. He broadcasts regularly on radio and television.<ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?page_id=103]</ref> |
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The Nyon Proces Programme Manager is Julian Weinberg. Prior to taking up his position in October 2010, Julian was the Senior Middle East Analyst with a political risk and strategic advisory firm. In September 2009, Julian returned from Damascus having studied Arabic and worked as a freelance journalist for 18 months.<ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/?page_id=103]</ref> |
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== Funding == |
== Funding == |
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Forward Thinking is funded by a diverse range of sources including: the [[Federal Department of Foreign Affairs|Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], the [[European Union]], and a number of Trusts and private donors.<ref>[http://www.forwardthinking.org/data/documents/2008.pdf Annual Report: Page 19]</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 12:06, 21 October 2013
Forward Thinking is a charitable organisation addressing issues related to the Middle East peace process and religious/secular dialogue.
Aims and Programmes
It has three main aims[1]
- To promote in the UK greater understanding and confidence between the diverse grassroots Muslim communities and the wider society including the media and the British establishment
- To promote a more inclusive peace process in the Middle East
- To facilitate a global dialogue between the religious and secular worlds
and three main Programmes
- The UK Programme
- The Middle East Programme.
- The Nyon Process
The UK Programme
The UK Programme aims to help Muslim communities engage with the "establishment" and the wider society without losing "faith identity". Its work involves providing capacity building support to Muslim charitable organisations at both a local and national level.[2]
The Middle East Programme
The prime focus of Forward Thinking's work in the Middle East is to promote a more inclusive peace process through dialogue with key Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders and political/religious leaders who previously had been unengaged. Forward Thinking works to engage with those who are perceived as religious or political "hardliners, in the belief that a durable peace agreement in the region requires the full participation of all political and faith-based leaders at each stage of the process [3]
The Nyon Process
The Nyon Process is a project of dialogue-to-action facilitated by Forward Thinking and supported by a number of a number of European governments that seeks to engage four key constituencies at the intersection of religion, politics, and social activism:
- Foreign policy advisors and analysts from Western European Governments
- Foreign policy advisors and analysts from the United States
- Religio-political activists from the United States and Europe (particularly Evangelical Christians and Muslim activists)
- Religio-political activists from the Mena region
The aim is to bridge the gap that exists between religious and secular worldviews that sometimes lead to misguided or ill-informed policy-making. [4]
Staff
Forward Thinking's co-founder and director is Oliver McTernan. Mr McTernan was a visiting fellow of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University 2000-2003 and is a senior associate fellow of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He was responsible for initiating the first post-conflict talks between NATO and the former Yugoslav government. His book Violence in God’s Name explores the role of religion in an age of conflict. He broadcasts regularly on radio and television.[5]
The Nyon Proces Programme Manager is Julian Weinberg. Prior to taking up his position in October 2010, Julian was the Senior Middle East Analyst with a political risk and strategic advisory firm. In September 2009, Julian returned from Damascus having studied Arabic and worked as a freelance journalist for 18 months.[6]
Funding
Forward Thinking is funded by a diverse range of sources including: the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, and a number of Trusts and private donors.[7]