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An Inter-Community Initiative for a New Centre Ground

Phoenix Initiative Brainstorming Meeting

28 - 29 October 2010
London

On 28^th- 29^th October, the Institute hosted a brainstorming meeting entitled ‘An Inter-Community Initiative for a New Centre Ground’.  The meeting was opened by Professor Timothy Garton Ash and was attended by nearly 50 thought leaders and activists from a variety of backgrounds, including representatives from both the conservative and liberal branches of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities, journalists, bloggers, philosophers, community activists and historians. 

The meeting sought to explore the moral, philosophical and practical underpinnings of developing a more robust and confident centre ground capable, de facto, of marginalising the extremes.  The aim was to create an inclusive process to identify a New Centre Ground that would bring together a network of figures from diverse political, community, religious and ideational backgrounds. There was a commitment not to shy away from tackling more divisive issues but rather to seek to create a ‘safe space’ for such questions to be tackled directly and honestly.  Questions discussed amongst the group included; ‘post-religious, post-ideological societies? Are we facing a moral and political vacuum?’, ‘multiculturalism, assimilation, integration: how to move beyond the current debate?’, ‘do we need shared values to live together?’ and ‘can the middle ever be as attractive and as aspirational as the extremes?’  Some of the points of conflict challenging society that were debated over the 2 days included gender equality, sexual orientation, the role of religion, and the West’s engagement abroad. 

The off-the-record meeting was an initial step in sowing the seeds for a longer term process and fostered useful relationships in an environment where participants felt comfortable talking about the contentious issues that are dividing communities.  Discussions and debates around the table were lively and challenging, with participants at ease exploring how to confront the identity and the crisis in confidence being experienced in both Europe and the US.  A strong contingent from the US attended and participants were in strong agreement that these issues need to be tackled on a transatlantic basis.

Follow up meetings are planned in order to move this initiative forward in 2011.