Алианс на цивилизациите - въпросник за онлайн срещата

Dr. Minka Zlateva, Sofia University, Bulgaria

Dr. Daniela Dimitrova, Iowa State University, USA

International Collaboration Discussion Questions

Main Topic: United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Initiative

GETTING STARTED & SELF INTRO

1. In order to create an account, enter a USERNAME and email address at this site: http://courses.jlmc.iastate.edu/wp/isuandsofiau/wp-signup.php
2. Check your e-mail and receive a password to enter the blog.
3. To enter the ISU and Sofia University blog, visit this URL: http://courses.jlmc.iastate.edu/wp/isuandsofiau/
4. All students should provide the following information in their first blog post: age and nationality, religion (optional), your major and year in college, and countries have you visited (if any) noting the reason and length of the visit.
5. Please describe any intercultural contacts you have had in the past, including students from other countries, visits to sites of cultural or religious importance, and personal communication with international representatives or political leaders.

ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS

1. How do you feel that students across the world could participate and contribute to the UN Alliance of Civilizations. In particular, what are some ways in which young people can use the Internet to exchange ideas and share knowledge about the importance of understanding other nations ideals, beliefs, and attitudes?
2. What is the greatest tool that UN Alliance of Civilizations will have to use in bridging differences between societies and cultures—the media, government-funded programs, collaborations with universities or anything else?
3. Do you believe the media has facilitated the dissemination of prejudices and misconceptions? Alternatively, do you think that the media can be used to promote intercultural understanding? How can the media be used to reduce tensions caused by intercultural differences and polarization between countries?
4. Even though this Alliance of Civilizations incorporates many strong, intelligent individuals, are there too many world leaders who are “stuck in their ways” both politically and culturally, that will automatically put up a barrier to understanding the Alliance? Will authoritarian leaders cause a communication barrier between the Alliance and themselves, not allowing the projects to develop? If there is a barrier how can the Alliance overcome this problem to pursue its mission?
5. Does the notion that developing countries are the most at risk to globalization hold water? Would you agree that rather than destroying national identity globalization has the “upsurging power” to promote and perhaps strengthen these identities?

INTERNET

1. The popularity of the Internet around the world is growing. To your knowledge, has this global network created more global connections or understanding? Are there any disadvantages of the Internet as a tool of communication?
2. In what ways do you think the Internet serves as a source of “cultural benevolence”, “cultural warfare” or “cultural creative destruction”?
3. How has the Internet affected your life and your worldview? What are three things that you can do today because of the Internet that you could not do two years ago; five years ago; ten years ago?
4. Do you consider blogs as a forum for expressing nationalistic ideas or a place for discussion about the issues of national identity? Provide examples of blogs that you follow on a regular basis. Do you think such forums will lead one to become more nationalistic or be more open to other cultures?
5. When the Internet is introduced to a country, it typically becomes available to the wealthiest portion of the population first. How does this influence the information available? Have you noticed an age/generational difference in people’s attitudes about the Internet? Does everyone think it’s a good idea to be “closer” to people around the world or are there people who think it’s a distraction?

BULGARIA

1. How do people in your country view the Muslim minority in Bulgaria and the Muslim world as a whole? If there are negative perceptions, how do you think these can be changed through media or other ways?
2. Do you believe the Alliance of Civilizations initiative has succeeded in its mission of building bridges between nations and across cultures and religions? Do you have any concrete examples from Bulgaria?
3. What is the general attitude of Bulgarians' national identity? Do they view "Americanization" as a threat to their national identity?
4. What role can Bulgaria play in transforming the Balkans into an area of peace and stability that values intercultural cooperation?
5. How has the more widespread use of the Internet changed the way Sofia University  functions on a daily basis? Do you have school email and online discussion boards for any of your courses? Do professors use the Internet as an integral portion of their teaching?