The Next Century Foundation promotes conflict resolution and reconciliation, principally in the Middle East. The search for agreement between peoples is vital, no matter what pain is involved, no matter what the sacrifices entailed. We must concentrate on the positive; concentrate on what we have achieved rather than where we have failed.
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For Visitors The Next Century Foundation was established in 1990 as a "second track" diplomatic foundation working towards conflict resolution and reconciliation. Its initial objective was to provide a forum for off-the-record discussion between Palestinians and Israelis. It has since worked in Iraq, Kashmir, Kosova and Sudan, while maintaining its original focus on the Middle East Peace Process. The Foundation brings together opinion formers, men and women of substance, in an informal atmosphere where confidentiality is maintained. The Foundation also organises conferences, media delegations and produces policy papers for submission to governments. For more information browse the "About Us" menu above. In addition to this website, the Foundation maintains a series of news blogs relating to its various Working Groups and to media issues. The sidebars on this website list the latest headlines from the blogs. The Working Group blogs include: Iraq [1], Iran [2], Syria [3], Sudan [4] and the Middle East peace process [5]. The media blogs cover Xenephobia in the Western Media [6] and in the Middle Eastern Media [7], while a third flags up specific issues raised by journalists [8]. |
For Members Welcome to the new NCF website. Please use the menu above and the search box to navigate around the site. Some of the content is publicly available including:
However, most of the content on the website is restricted for members. You can login immediately with the usual Foundation password to gain access to:
In order to access the full content, and to participate in forum discussions you will need to request a personal username and password, following the directions on the Login page [8]. |
Our maxim is a “fair hearing for every people and every nation”. We believe passionately in the right to be heard and that all minority nations on the world stage today have an inalienable right to put their case. That there is only one weapon WE can use in the presentation of any case: Truth. We recognise that in all human relationships, and all the more so in the shadowy world that is created when you drink the heady mix of politics and diplomacy, the world of the children’s song holds true: “When you point your finger at your neighbour, there are three more pointing back at you”.
It was in this spirit that the Next Century Foundation was started to promote peace and rapproachment between the nations of the Middle East. At the very first meeting Claud Morris emphasised that the aim was not only peace but understanding. “That’s what we’re after. We want to break a deadlock,” he announced. We recognise the value of the late Jon Kimche’s insight when he said that, “the stumbling block is defining what people mean by peace. Often they mean a way to achieve without fighting what they couldn’t achieve by fighting.” For us the aim is understanding. We believe that by holding to this aim, the lives of many could be touched producing changes in situations of which even we are not yet aware.
We are impressed by the distinction Thomas Aquinas drew between peace and concord, pointing out that concord is possible between murderers and thieves but real peace is based on genuine love - an understanding of differences and an appreciation of difficulties.