About the Initiative

Mission and Vision

GDCI brings together researchers, policymakers, and civil society practitioners to advance a world where civilizational diversity is a source of strength.

Founding Principles

Intellectual Parity

No civilization is treated as the default measure of another.

Scholarly Rigor

Dialogue is grounded in evidence, historical context, and careful inquiry.

Long-Horizon Thinking

We approach civilizational questions across decades and centuries rather than news cycles.

The Civilizational Dialogue Movement

Modern institutional work on dialogue among civilizations includes Hans Köchler’s 1972 UNESCO proposal, President Mohammad Khatami’s 1998 United Nations address, and the establishment of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in 2005.