Dialogue Across Cultures: Interview with Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany

As part of the Dialogue Across Cultures project, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany, a scholar whose work explores the intersections of Gender Studies, Religion, Culture, Minorities, Media, and Social Justice.

Dr. Sabet Sarvestany is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Åbo Akademi University in Finland. Her research examines how identity, dialogue, justice, and inclusion contribute to building more peaceful societies.

In this conversation, we discuss the meaning of peace, the role of dialogue across cultures, gender equality, religion, media, universities, and the importance of meaningful conversations in creating a more just and peaceful world.

Q1. Peace is often understood simply as the absence of war. From your perspective as a researcher in gender, culture, and religion, how would you define peace? What does genuine and lasting peace really look like?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

For me also, peace is much more than the absence of war. The first thing that comes to my mind is inner peace—the harmony between our thoughts, feelings, values, words, and actions.

I believe lasting peace grows from within. Just as a tree cannot flourish without strong roots, a peaceful society cannot exist without individuals who understand, cultivate, and practice inner peace.

When people are at peace with themselves, they are better able to build respectful relationships and contribute to more just and harmonious communities. So, genuine peace begins with the individual but ultimately extends to society as a whole.

Q2. Your research explores how identities are shaped by culture, religion, and society. In increasingly diverse societies, how can dialogue between people with different cultures, beliefs, and worldviews help prevent misunderstanding and build trust?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

While culture, religion, and society play important roles in shaping our identities, I believe individuals also have the ability to consciously define who they are beyond the expectations of their environment, family, or social context.

When it comes to dialogue between people with different cultures, beliefs, and worldviews, I think trust begins when we recognize our shared humanity.

If being human becomes the foundation of our dialogue, then differences in culture, religion, gender, or other identities are no longer barriers. Instead, they become opportunities to learn from one another and better understand the many ways people experience and interpret the world.

In this way, dialogue helps prevent misunderstanding because it shifts our focus from what divides us to what connects us, creating space for empathy, respect, and mutual trust.

Q3. Gender equality is often discussed as a human rights issue. From your perspective, how important is gender equality for achieving sustainable peace? Can societies truly be peaceful if significant gender inequalities remain?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

I believe that, at its deepest level, the human soul has no gender. Gender is often shaped by social, cultural, political, and traditional structures, but our fundamental human worth and potential are not determined by whether we are male or female.

For this reason, gender equality is essential for achieving sustainable peace. While it is certainly a human rights issue, I see it as something even broader. It is about recognizing and valuing the capacities, talents, and contributions of every person, regardless of gender.

A society cannot achieve genuine and lasting peace if significant gender inequalities remain. When people are denied opportunities, participation, or respect because of their gender, it creates injustice and limits human potential.

Peace requires that all individuals are able to contribute fully to their families, communities, and societies. Therefore, gender equality is not only about rights; it is about creating conditions in which every human being can develop their abilities and participate equally in building a more peaceful and just society.

Q4. Religion has the power both to unite and to divide people. Based on your research, what conditions allow religion to become a force for dialogue, reconciliation, and peace instead of conflict?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

First, when we talk about religion, I think it is important to ask what we mean by the term religion.

Throughout history, religion has been understood and practiced in many different ways, shaped by diverse cultures and human experiences.

In my understanding, the essence of religion is to develop human capacities and intellectual growth, and to promote peace, justice, and the well-being of all.

However, history shows that religion has not always played this role.

I believe religion becomes a force for dialogue, reconciliation, and peace when its focus is on our shared humanity and ethical values rather than division and exclusion.

Religious leaders also carry a great responsibility in this regard. Their interpretations and actions can either build bridges between people or deepen existing conflicts.

Q5. Many societies today struggle with polarization and the exclusion of minorities. What role does recognizing and including minority voices play in creating peaceful and resilient communities?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

I think polarization, exclusion, and discrimination are challenges that humanity has faced throughout history.

Rather than seeing them only as failures, I see them as part of our collective learning process. By reflecting on these experiences, we can better understand how to build more inclusive and peaceful societies.

This process of learning and improvement is ongoing.

Today, we are becoming more aware of the language, attitudes, and structures that create division and exclusion. We also try to ensure that marginalized voices are heard.

However, I believe the goal should go beyond simply “giving a voice” to certain groups, because this can imply that some people have the power to speak while others do not.

For me, the foundation of a peaceful and resilient society is creating spaces where everyone can speak, be heard, and participate equally.

When all voices are genuinely included, communities become more democratic, more just, and better equipped to build trust and understanding.

In fact, if we succeed in creating such spaces, we may even move beyond labels such as majority and minority. We may develop new ways of thinking and speaking about people—ones that focus less on categories and more on our shared humanity, while still valuing the diversity of our experiences and perspectives.

Q6. We live in an age where social media shapes public opinion more than ever before. Do you think today’s media and digital platforms are helping people understand one another, or are they making dialogue more difficult? What changes would you like to see?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

I think the answer is both.

Media and digital platforms can help people understand one another, but they can also make dialogue more difficult. It ultimately depends on how we use them.

I do not believe that social media or digital platforms are, by themselves, the cause of either conflict or peace. They are tools.

The real question is how people choose to use them.

The same platform can be used to spread understanding, empathy, and meaningful dialogue, or to promote division, misinformation, and polarization.

What I would like to see is greater emphasis on respectful dialogue, critical thinking, and responsible use of these technologies.

If we approach these platforms with openness and a genuine desire to learn from one another, they can become powerful spaces for connection rather than conflict.

Q7. As someone working within academia, you interact with students and researchers from different backgrounds. What role should universities play in preparing future generations to become bridge-builders rather than contributors to polarization?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

That’s a very thoughtful question.

I believe universities have a crucial role in preparing future generations to become bridge-builders. They are spaces where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives come together to learn from one another.

At the same time, we must acknowledge that academia can sometimes contribute to polarization.

For example, certain academic traditions and theories—often shaped by a limited number of dominant voices—have had a strong influence on knowledge production worldwide.

This raises important questions about academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and whose knowledge is recognized and valued.

Ideally, universities should create conditions where diverse perspectives, languages, and intellectual traditions can engage on an equal footing.

Advances in technology may help us move closer to this ideal by making scholarship from different linguistic and cultural contexts more accessible.

To me, the role of universities is not only to produce knowledge but also to cultivate openness, critical thinking, humility, and dialogue.

When students and scholars learn to engage with different perspectives respectfully, they are more likely to become bridge-builders rather than contributors to polarization.

Q8. This project is called Dialogue Across Cultures because I believe meaningful conversations can change how we see one another. Do you believe that respectful conversations between ordinary people can contribute to peace in meaningful ways? And if you could leave people around the world with one message about building peace, what would it be?

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany:

Yes, I do believe that respectful conversations between people can contribute to peace in meaningful ways.

However, for me, the more important question is: What do we mean by a meaningful conversation?

Different people may have different understandings of what meaningful dialogue looks like. Therefore, the challenge is not only to encourage conversations but also to build the capacities needed for them.

How do we connect different perspectives?

How do we learn to listen with openness, empathy, and humility?

What skills and attitudes do we need to develop in order to engage in genuine dialogue?

I think meaningful conversations become possible when we see them as a shared learning process rather than an attempt to convince others that we are right.

The goal is not necessarily agreement, but greater understanding and stronger human connections.

If I could leave people around the world with one message about building peace, it would be this:

Peace begins when we are willing to learn from one another and commit ourselves to creating peace not only for those we know, but also for those we may never meet.

About the Guest

Dr. Raha Sabet Sarvestany

• PhD in Women’s Studies

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Åbo Akademi University, Finland

• Regional Coordinator (EU), ICOIA

• Amnesty Turku Local Coordinator

• Editorial Board Member, JMEVS

• Board Member, SELMA