On October 17th, the Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa hosted a panel discussion titled “Digital Storytelling – The Intersection of Culture, Peace, and Security” in Gothenburg, Sweden. This event was part of the “Celebrating Our Diversity Forum”, an annual gathering organized by the Swedish chapter of the Anna Lindh Foundation in collaboration with The National Museums of World Culture, Sweden. Now in its sixth edition, the forum, held from October 16th to 18th, focused on the theme “Living Together” and brought together intercultural dialogue practitioners dedicated to fostering inclusive, intercultural, and sustainable cities in the Euro-Med region.
The panel discussion explored the transformative role of digital storytelling in promoting intercultural dialogue and amplifying voices for peace. It explored how digital platforms such as social media, filmmaking, and podcasts can enhance cross-regional dialogue. The session aimed to engage intercultural dialogue practitioners and strengthen intercultural understanding in the digital age in the Euro-Med region.
The panel was moderated by the Dialogue Institute’s Deputy Director, Martina Berglund, and featured three distinguished practitioners, each with unique expertise and perspectives:
Main takeaways from the panel
The panel concluded by emphasizing strategies to enhance digital storytelling's impact, such as focusing on universal themes like love, resilience, and community to foster broad resonance. They highlighted the importance of investing in arts and culture to evoke empathy and understanding across divides, promoting collaboration among storytellers
and cultural practitioners from the EU-MENA region to amplify marginalized voices, and leveraging diverse platforms to reach varied audiences and navigate algorithmic constraints effectively.
Read the full report on Digital Storytelling – The Intersection of Culture, Peace, and Security
