Panel discussion “The Role of NGOs in Development of International Cooperation” at WFYS in Sochi

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Panel discussion “The Role of NGOs in Development of International Cooperation” was held on October 18 in Sochi at the XIX World Festival of Youth and Students. Programs Director of the Gorchakov Fund Nikita Silakov served as a moderator of the discussion.

Professor of the Department of Comparative Political Science at MGIMO under MFA of Russia, member of the Gorchakov Club Yelena Ponomareva made a presentation “Youth NGOs as Participants of the World Politics”. She explained the concept of “youth organizations”, told about the role of NGOs in the modern world, provided an overview of approaches to development and implementation of a youth policy and specified a level of participation of the government in it.

The expert mentioned that presently a trend for universalization of NGOs was developing as well as their transformation from participants into actors of the world politics.

The discussion also included topics related to Russian experience of the youth policy, the concept of foreign policy in Russia, differences of public diplomacy from classical diplomacy, varieties of methods and tools of public diplomacy as well as organizational and economic aspects of its success.

Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Fund Roman Grishenin, in his turn, mentioned financial assistance, which NGOs could receive. According to him, Russia had registered over 10,000 NGOs, which were involved in socially oriented topics.

Roman Grishenin explained what distinguished Russian "soft power” from other countries. He told about what was happening in the field of public diplomacy in Russia and development of new meanings.

The discussion ended with a speech made by Chairman of the National Youth Council of Russia, member of the Gorchakov Club Grigory Petushkov. He introduced the audience to history of his organization and areas of its activities. He told about the work, which had been done during preparation of WFYS in Sochi.

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Gorchakov Fund, WFYS, Sochi, youth, Grishenin, NGO, non-profit organizations, civil society, Grishenin, Silakov, Petushkov, Ponomareva, National Youth Council,