Why in ‘other’ contexts?

Otherness is a wide range of arguments covering many political and cultural tensions since the emergence of nation-states. However, contemporary discussions about otherness, alienation, orientalism, exoticizing, and assimilation are still produced by a group of researchers to expose a very limited audience. We believe cultural otherness is a universal problem, and the more discussions stand out, the less oppression for others will happen in the future.

Things we do – Methodology

When we find an intriguing idea, preferably in an underrepresented non-western cultural narrative as a research topic, we start to follow the roots of the traditions and customs, leading to a discussion as a start of creative dialogue.

For us, creative/critical dialogue signifies combining scientific studies with many opinions, particularly in oppressed communities. Our methodology consists of browsing (in the age of the internet)   academic authorities’ studies on the particular subject and discussing the critical points (for us) with ‘others.’ We like to borrow diverse techniques from different disciplines such as data analysis, mapping, comparative reading, etc.

Part of our methodology is to engage in dialogue and actively listen to people from diverse perspectives, conduct thorough research, and avoid escalating competitive strain among marginalized communities.There is a conflict of arguments, however, we recognize that there may be instances where our discourse inadvertently hurts or traumatizes some groups.In such cases, we are committed to self-reflection and examining our position through collaborative efforts, ensuring that we continually engage in conversations and collaborative learning to align our perspective.

As we understand it, a think tank is an evolving space that continually produces and evolves opinions, interpretations, and political stances. It is important for us to be honest and open about our decision to expand and reframe our manifesto. This goes beyond a mere name change for us; it is a testament to our commitment to democratic principles, our willingness to accept criticism, and our dedication to learning from past experiences in order to deepen our knowledge.

Regarding the use of the word “Ambaradan,” the word  is used quite commonly in the Italian language to express chaos and it burdens some negative connotations, we acknowledge the need to critically examine how Italy’s colonial past reflects in sociological discourses. Therefore, in this context, we have decided to discontinue the use of “Ambaradan” as our name.

Building an enhanced area that fosters dialogue has been our key objective from the very beginning.We believe that the term “al muKHhatab” encapsulates our perspective as a think tank. 

Additionally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our previous round table guests. We have learned valuable insights from their contributions, particularly in navigating the institutional landscape surrounding artistic and anthropological subjects. Their assistance has been instrumental in our growth and understanding.