The section was organized by the Russian-African Club of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Globus-21st Century Research and Educational Center of the Faculty of Global Processes, and the Department of Global Social Processes and Youth Affairs of Moscow State University.

More than 15 countries participated in the Section, including scholars, experts, politicians, government officials, public figures, and journalists from Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia. The discussion was conducted in four languages: Russian, English, French, and Arabic, underscoring the event's international status.

?A call for a new methodological level

The section's moderator, Ilya Leonidovich Shershnev, Director of the Globus 21st Century Research and Education Center and Program Director of the Russian-African Club at Lomonosov Moscow State University, emphasized the need to move to a new methodological level of international interaction. He stated that the collective development of an international textbook, "Public Diplomacy and Peacekeeping Journalism," is a key tool for achieving this goal. Based on the new textbook, curricula are planned to be launched at universities in participating countries, training activists who will build a secure, multipolar world on a horizontal level, based on justice, respect, and mutual trust.

Igor Krugovykh, Deputy Chairman of the Council for Nationalities Affairs under the Moscow Government and head of the international public movement "Mirosozidaniye," addressed the participants with a welcoming address. He noted that the creative foundation of the future lies in the preservation and development of the national and cultural values ??of peoples, their right to choose their own path, and their support from outside interference. He emphasized that in a dynamically changing world, it is essential to define the place and role of public organizations, actively utilizing the latest technologies.

In his speech, Dmitry Valerievich Polikanov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, noted the relevance of the event, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of public diplomacy. He welcomed the participants' desire to move toward practical decisions that will become key tools for expanding Russia's humanitarian influence. D.V. Polikanov emphasized the particular importance of developing practical projects implemented at various venues, including Rossotrudnichestvo representative offices in more than 70 countries, as well as partner Russian Houses.

Timbkieta Daniel Sawadogo, head of the branch of the Russian-African Club of Lomonosov Moscow State University in Burkina Faso and other countries of the Sahel Confederation and former cultural attaché of the Burkina Faso Embassy in Russia, shared his views on the models, principles, and strategies for building a multipolar world.

?Expert commentary:

Louis Gowen: "A textbook is the foundation for trust and business."

Louis Gowende, President of the African Business Club and Chairman of the Commission for Work with African Diasporas and Public Relations of the Russian-African Club of Lomonosov Moscow State University, emphasized the practical significance of the project for the business community:

“The development of this international textbook is of critical importance"This textbook is of great importance not only for the academic community but also for business. Effective public diplomacy, based on mutual respect and understanding of cultural differences, is a direct bridge to sustainable economic cooperation. We, as representatives of the business community, are interested in ensuring that future professionals—journalists, diplomats, and public figures—are equipped with the tools of peacekeeping journalism. This will reduce information barriers, strengthen trust at the person-to-person level, and, as a result, create a more stable and predictable climate for investment and trade between Russia and African countries. This textbook is the foundation upon which a long-term and successful partnership will be built."

?1. NGO Transformation and Multipolarity

Dragana Trifkovic believes that, to achieve peace, NGOs must move from a model of dependence to a partnership based on sovereignty and equality, in line with a multipolar model of democracy. Ali al-Burhan Azzawi sees signs of a multipolar world in Russia's growing role and the shift from excessive globalization to consideration of national interests.

?2. Public Diplomacy and Education

Edward Chesnokov analyzed the historical role of public diplomacy (example 1962) and proposed integrating a year-long training course on it into the training of international relations specialists (journalists, diplomats).

Sergei Dmitrievich Baranov supported the creation of the textbook and proposed including a section on the multicentric picture of the world and civilizational theory to formulate a general concept.

?3. Peacekeeping Journalism and the Fight Against Fake News

Mohammad Kursi showed how the media shapes public opinion (an example of changing attitudes towards the USSR/USA after 1945) and called for a transition from propaganda media to peacekeeping journalism, proposing the creation of a dictionary of peace-building terms for a textbook.

  Timur Vladimirovich Shafir emphasized that journalism is a tool for peacemaking and public diplomacy, and supported the creation of a teaching aid to develop a unified professional language.

  Ayodele Babatunde Joseph noted that peace journalism can prevent conflicts by promoting cross-cultural concepts (an example is Nelson Mandela's initiative).

  Khola Keswa emphasized the importance of combating fake news (such as the smear campaign against the Alabuga project) and called for more active efforts to familiarize the African population with Russian humanitarian projects.

?4. Structure of the Textbook and Preventive Diplomacy

Rtskhiladze Gulbaat Viktorovich proposed a structure for the textbook that includes an analytical framework, sections on regional studies, the experience of international journalists in hot spots, and a specification of public diplomacy actors.

    Sara Shukr Ahmed presented a paper on "Preventive Diplomacy and Peacebuilding".

Igor Erikovich KrugovykhSumming up the meeting, he invited Ilya Leonidovich Shershnev to lead the working group on creating the textbook. He also asked the section participants to submit practical recommendations, which would be developed and included in sections of the future international teaching aid.