FROM POLARIZATION TO COEXISTENCE: THE ROLE OF DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS IN MANAGING RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Abstract

Abstract: The persistent, often violent, splintering of societies along religious and cultural lines poses a profound challenge to global stability, rendering genuine coexistence an elusive ideal. Despite decades of scholarly discourse and diplomatic initiatives advocating for intergroup understanding, the chasm separating diverse communities appears to deepen, not narrow. This paper contends that the superficial application of inter-civilizational dialogue has frequently failed to address the deep-seated fears and power imbalances fueling polarization, leaving it a well-intentioned but often impotent tool. We explore how dialogue, when stripped of its transformative potential and reduced to mere polite conversation, becomes utterly insufficient for navigating the intricate web of religious and cultural differences. A critical examination reveals that true progress demands a radical re-imagining of dialogue, moving beyond performative gestures to cultivate robust, empathetic engagement that confronts rather than sidesteps fundamental disagreements. Without such a paradigm shift, the dream of genuine coexistence remains a dangerous fantasy, perpetually vulnerable to the next spark of division.