Dialogue of Cultures and Religions

The growing importance of identity, religion and culture in the context of increasingly antagonistic discourses on complex global issues, such as the climate crisis, migration, distributive justice, ethical and moral values and their implementation, call for special instruments to deal with them, which are based on Austrian laws and values that include democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Intercultural and interreligious dialogues are an effective method of Austrian foreign policy. By breaking down stereotypes and prejudices, dialogue contributes significantly to international confidence building, conflict resolution and peacekeeping.

In this context, the involvement of civil society, including representatives from academia, religious communities and NGOs, is a key element in establishing or expanding dialogue with religiously or ideologically divergent political currents. The interweaving of art and cultural work with dialogical approaches can also be an essential component.

Austria has many years of experience in cultural diplomacy and the development of cultural relations and supports international dialogue initiatives with governmental and non-governmental participants, including representatives from academia, religion and NGOs. In October 2022, an overview of all governmental and non-governmental interreligious dialogue initiatives in Austria was compiled as part of a project at the University of Vienna.

The Task Force “Dialogue of Cultures”, based in the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs since 2007, draws both conceptually and methodologically on Austria's deep experience.