From Dialogue to Collaboration

Abstract

Conferences focusing on the thought of Fethullah Gülen, especially the activities of the faith-based movement inspired by it, can nowadays be considered common events. Indeed, by now the organization of such academic conferences can rightfully be regarded as yet another regular field of activity of the movement, besides its major and relentless endeavors in interreligious dialogue, secular education, welfare, and the media. Whereas the major events of the last two years took place in Europe and the United States (London and Rotterdam, 2007; Washington DC, 2008; and Potsdam, 2009), the Australian Catholic University, the Australian Intercultural Society, and Monash University put Australia back on the map with this conference. Convened during 15- 16 July 2009 at the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, it was also meant to celebrate last year’s establishment of the university’s Fethullah Gülen Chair for Islamic Studies, held by Prof. Ismail Albayrak ...