Meeting for discussion about Book on “Friendship as a Worldview” was held on 22 January 2018 in University of Tehran Faculty of Law and Political Science hall with presence of students and scholars of international relations. The meeting we held jointly by Center for Graduate International Studies of University of Tehran and Salaam Global Foundation on Salaam and peace and friendship.
Speakers were Dr. Jafar Mahallati, Presidential Scholar in Islamic Studies at the Religion Department of Oberlin College (Writer of Book); Dr. Nasser Hadian, Professor of International Relations at University of Tehran; Dr. Alireza Moayyeri , Head of Salaam Global Foundation Board of Trustees and Amb. Assadi, Former Iran Ambassador to UN.
Dr. Ali Sadat Akhavi, Head of Center for Graduate International Studies of University of Tehran, Dr. Mohammadreza Takhshid, Dean of Faculty of Law and Political Science of University of Tehran and Dr. Homeira Moshirzadeh, Professor of International Relations at University of Tehran were also present.
In the beginning Dr. Sadat Akhavi welcomed the participants and introduced the speakers. Then Dr. Hadian explained about public diplomacy and his mutual experience with Dr. Mahallati in this field.
Then Dr. Moayyeri greeted the participants and appreciated Dr. Sadat Akhavi efforts for holding the meeting. He mentioned past meetings on subjects such as peace, youth, cultural diversity, intellectual property and friendship and emphasized on Salaam Global Foundation goal on raising awareness and producing literature on subjects less attended.
In continuing Dr. Mahallati talked about idea of friendship as a world view. While mentioning his ten year activity in field of friendship especially in Oberlin College, he said research on friendship in west has a long history and emphasized on importance of advancement of peace and friendship literature in Iran. Then he introduced the book, its subjects and writers.
Amb. Assadi made comments on Dr. Mahallati speech. He mentioned Dr. Mahallati experience and role in ending Iran Iraq War and adoption of UNSC resolution 598 and emphasized on importance of documenting them for next generations.
At the end participants asked their questions and speakers answered them. Dr. Mahallati in response to one participants said concepts like human is wolf human is vanishing and we need paradigm shift in international relations and friendship is one of those paradigms.
SSQA