Society Archives | Reset DOC

It is certainly surprising that, in the middle of major international conflicts (such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the repeated massacres in Gaza, and the Israel–Iran war), the United Nations Security Council has not been able to play the role of mediation that the UN Charter contemplated. The UNSC has gathered daily, and its permanent and elected members have discussed both minor and major crises, but without being able to agree on any Resolution regarding the most important events. By itself, this would not have been a major change: in the Cold War, many UNSC Resolutions were blocked by either the USA or the USSR veto. For far too long, two major blocks operated in opposite directions: on one side, the liberal democracies led by France, the United Kingdom, and, above all, the United States, and on the opposite side, the Soviet Union – and later Russia – supported by China.

PublicationsSociety

Special Issue: Venice Seminars 2020; Communities and the Individual: Beyond the Liberal-Communitarian Divide This volume gathers the articles presented at the 2020 ResetDOC Venice Seminars, which were held online from May 25 to May 29, 2020. The 2020 Venice Seminars addressed the topic of “Communities and the Individual: Beyond the Liberal-Communitarian Divide” Editors: Alessandro Ferrara, Volker Kaul and David Rasmussen Download the pdf version here.

Our Initiatives Society

The international association Reset Dialogues on Civilizations has launched the Reset Seminars of Pluralism in the Middle East and North Africa, a yearly international program on cultural and religious pluralism and political liberties. The purpose is to promote a local intellectual response to the rise of rigorist strands of Islamic thought by training 40 emerging opinion-leaders on the relationship between religion, history and power and to contribute to the reawakening of pluralistic traditions in Muslim contexts.

The current political situation in Post-Soviet countries, primarily the Russian Federation, raises questions about the cultural roots of today’s prevailing nationalist political ideologies and behaviours. The international scientific community has to overcome the lack of knowledge about Russia’s Post-Soviet history, also in order to avoid the sheer repetition of old clichés – liberal -western opinions versus a despotic-eastern world

Videos Society

How did religion shift from fueling division to fostering dialogue in post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina? Reset DOC’s upcoming documentary explores the pivotal role of faith in reconciliation and peacebuilding. Catch the trailer now and stay tuned for the full release!

ConveningSociety

May

2025

Venice International University

The conference and seminars will examine the decline of liberal democracies, exploring the discontent between the elite and the working and middle classes, the ineffectiveness of traditional grievance channels, and the rise of radical polarization and extremist views. It will also address growing inequalities and the challenge of finding new frameworks to resolve the evolving conflict between the many and the few, with a focus on how modern philosophy can play a key role in developing solutions.

April

2025

Georgetown University

This panel gathers scholars to explore how Jewish thought, identity, and practice respond to pluralism in today’s globalized world, addressing challenges like relativism, atheism, and diverse norms. Panelists will discuss Judaism’s role in cultural and religious diversity, reflecting on its contributions and transformations. Through theology, philosophy, politics, and sociology, this conversation invites the public to ponder Jewish pluralism in our interconnected yet fractured world.

January

2025

Rome, Italy

This international conference will address the critical challenges facing liberal democracies. It will explore their failure to respond effectively to the anxieties and needs of citizens grappling with globalization, precarious employment, demographic changes, and social dislocation. These issues, amplified by populist rhetoric and the perceived indifference of liberal elites, have led to growing polarization, weakened societal cohesion, and ideological stagnation in politics.