Events

Gandhi’s teachings, especially his concept of non-violent resistance, have received renewed attention during recent uprisings, notably in the Arab world. The Frankfurt Gandhi Talks 2011 will focus on what influence his teachings had on peaceful revolutions and what perspectives the concept of non-violent resistance can offer to movements striving for democracy and human rights world-wide. Activists from Egypt and Serbia, who have experienced peaceful revolutions, which in turn are more closely interwoven than commonly known, will be discussing with the German audience. Otpor! (resistance), the Serbian civic youth movement, adapted the concept of nonviolent resistance and became instrumental in dethroning the autocratic leader Slobodan Milošević in 2000. Egyptian activists, again, were actively supported and trained in applying this method by members of Otpor!.

Welcome and Opening

Professor Harald Müller

Executive Director, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

Dr Jona A. Dohrmann

Chairman, Indo-German Cooperation Frankfurt

N.N.

Consul General of India, Frankfurt (requested)

Discussants

Ivan Marovic, co-founder of Otpor!, Belgrade, Serbia

Ahmed Salah, activist, Cairo, Egypt

Dr Larbi Sadiki, expert on democratisation in the Arab Middle East, University of Exeter, UK

Dr Thorsten Gromes, expert on peace building and inner-societal conflicts, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

Professor Cherian Kurian, Madras Christian College, Chennai, India

The language of discussion is English.