On Thursday, April 24, the Dialogue Book by the Finnish philosopher and dialogue practitioner Kai Alhanen was launched at the Zvaigzne ABC Publisher’s bookstore in Riga. This book brings the dialogue method into the homes of people all around Latvia providing guidance and practical tools for steering through a dialogue in any setting and situation of our lives.
At the book launch, the author emphasised that in today’s world, dialogue is much more than a form of communication – it is a tool for fostering bonding, understanding and creative solutions out of complex situations. According to the author dialogue is a conversation aimed at deepening understanding of a topic, of others and of oneself. Dialogue and listening are skills needed now more than ever. And Kai highlights that survival of individuals, communities and the world depends on us mastering these skills.
The event was opened by Ieva Morica, Executive Director of the DOTS Foundation for an Open Society and founder of the Discussion Festival LAMPA. She highlighted the relevance of the book in a time when societal interactions are often marked by polarisation and a lack of dialogue culture. She emphasised that dialogue is not possible without two fundamental elements – respect and listening: “Dialogue is rooted in attitude – respect for the other person and their world view.”
Stefan Eriksson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, built on that stance in his speech:
“The release of a new book is always a celebration, but this one arrives at a time when global events remind us not only to strive for a common ground in a conversation but also of the importance of learning dialogue facilitation skills. Respectful dialogue is the foundation of democracy, and it is one of our key values that we stand for. Supporting the publication of this book and other DOTS initiatives aimed at strengthening dialogue culture in Latvia is productive way to honour this value.”
In a conversation with Ieva Morica, the author of the book encouraged the audience not to view dialogue as a weak alternative to debate or discussion, but as a deeply democratic, creative and healing form of conversation that can bring together even people long divided by disagreements. He noted that dialogue is often misunderstood as a technique or just a desire to ‘speak calmly’. Dialogue Book reveals that true dialogue begins with being present, respectful and willing to understand the other person.
Kai Alhanen is a political philosophy scholar and Director of the Dialogue Academy in Finland. He has devoted over 20 years to developing the practice of dialogue and is one of the most recognised teachers of this method in Finland and worldwide. He is a co-author of acclaimed innovative dialogue initiatives such as “Timeout” and “National Dialogues.” For the past three years, the DOTS Foundation for an Open Society has been practicing the dialogue method in Latvia by organising Dialogue Circles together with the State Chancellery, adapting the principles of “Timeout” to the needs of Latvian society and establishing a dedicated Dialogue Movement.
The book is published by Zvaigzne ABC and is available in bookstores throughout Latvia. It was translated from Finnish by Aija Biezaite. The publication is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia and the DOTS Foundation for an Open Society.
