Agree to Differ

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Building a framework for commonly

shared values to foster social cohesion

Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

want to express my appreciation to the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization for undertaking the commend-

able initiative to publish this book, ‘Agree to Differ’.

However, since agreeing to differ might imply to ‘differ’

under any circumstance and to maintain differences of

opinion, I would have preferred to name this publica-

tion ‘Agree to Respect Differences’.

It is evident that the world community, or humanity as

a whole, with its multiple cultures, diverse social norms,

rich and varied ethical standards and different institu-

tional structures and judicial systems, cannot and should

not be based on a single and centric perspective that seeks

to remake the world in its own image and conform all

according to its convictions, references, historical back-

ground and philosophical, social and political roots. In this

connection, I must stress that relations between countries

and communities should be maintained on the basis of

respect, parity and appreciation; and should be centred on

the values of justice, equality, tolerance and human dignity.

Furthermore, I also hope that all countries and peoples will

always be true to the age-old maxim not to claim moral

authority to pass one-sided judgments and moral catego-

rization of others.

Much to my regret, during the last decade we have

observed that:

• darkness could overpower enlightenment

• polarization, conflicts and human suffering are

constantly gaining the upper hand and carry the risk of

entrenchment

• a kind of clash of civilizations and different manifestations

of phobias have acquired global dimensions

• some political forces have become hegemonic, and

consequently attempts to create new conservative blocs

have become more pronounced

• searches for meaningful ‘change’ are mistakenly

connected to crises within the globalization process

• cultural and ethnic identity relationships, modernity and

sense of cohesion have tended to enter an irreversible and

negative transformation process.

In other words, it seems to be true even today that “I look

for roses, but all I find are thorns,” as the fifteenth-century

Turkish poet Ahmet Pasha wrote. It therefore falls on our

shoulders not only to look for roses, but to find them.

Shared values

Having noted these points, the first thing I want to do is to

try to define what I understand by ‘shared values’. As I see it,

shared values are the fundamental beliefs, concepts and prin-

ciples that underlie a culture. These concepts and principles

guide the decisions and behaviour of that culture.

Now, let me pose a rhetorical question, which is somewhat

related to the title and objective of the current book. We

are speaking about formulating a set of shared values. But

whose values are we to share? Are there universally accepted

shared values?

We all remember the debate leading to the Lisbon Treaty of

the European Union, when some wanted to insert Christian

values as the basis. On the other hand, while debating

the mandate of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission

(OIC IPHRC), some wanted to base it on Islamic values.

I recognize that these may be uncommon examples.

However, the fact remains that we have to first of all agree on

the values that we shall share. If the answer to my question is

that we shall share those values that we all agree on, like for

example the universal human rights standards, the n I will

have to withdraw my question.

The mindset of all citizens needs to be tolerant and respectful to their fellow

citizens, regardless of their identities

Image: OIC

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