Dr Halilovic-Pastuovic participates in the 13th International Conference on Unity and Plurality in Europe

The International Forum Bosnia (IFB) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1997 in Sarajevo. It brings together individuals and institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad committed to the creation of a future for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a harmonious and united society, based on dialogue, trust, and respect, and on best practice in the fields of human rights protection, the rule of law, and democracy. The IFB's members adhere to the principle of the sustainability of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a plural society with a very rich political and cultural heritage. The IFB approaches this goal in a twofold manner. The first path involves the deconstruction of the divisive political and social ideologies based on ethnicity, religion, and other exclusive world-views. The second path involves the systematic development and promotion of a new synthesis for Bosnia and Herzegovina which incorporates a vision of social development free from hostilities, and tensions.

The theme of the conference was ‘The State of the Balkans – between Imaginary Politics and Realpolitik’. The conference programme was structured around two main fields: 1) Religion, identity and society, and 2) the Balkan state after Ideology. The highlight of the conference was a public talk on Islamophobia titled ‘Islamophobia – From Mediaeval History to Modern Prejudice in Europe’ given by Ariel Salzmann, Professor of Islamic and Global History and Adnan Husain, Lecturer in the History of Mediaeval Mediterranean.