MEDINA Forum Launches in Granada, Spain, Reimagining the Mediterranean as a Shared Space

The Mediterranean Intercultural Narratives Forum Reimagines the Mediterranean as a Shared Mirror

Granada, Spain — The inaugural Mediterranean Intercultural Narratives Forum (MEDINA), in partnership with the University of Granada, was held on 25–26 March 2026 at La Madraza—the historic heart of the University and one of the oldest centres of learning in the Western Mediterranean. 

Presenters at the MEDINA Forum unpacked the depth and complexity of Mediterranean civilisational networks across a range of historical contexts — from the multicultural layering of Sicily and the trauma of the Morisco expulsion, to Granada as an exemplar of encounter and exchange. Discussions then traced how these historical frameworks connect to contemporary explorations of identity, moving from cosmopolitan theory to questions of pluralist integration in today's world. The panels were structured thematically, opening with foundational frameworks and approaches before progressing toward more present-focused dialogues on "Imagining the Other", touching on topics such as Occidentalism and Orientalism — with the audience including students from the University of Granada, whose city itself served as both backdrop and living reference point for the conversations unfolding.

Mission

MEDINA’s mission is to illuminate the Mediterranean as more than a geographic crossroads, showcasing it as a vibrant testament to the universality of human achievement and recognising that its accomplishments across the North, South, and East have always emerged from interlinked networks of trade, scholarship, science, and governance. To achieve this, MEDINA draws on interdisciplinary research methodologies including historical analysis, comparative literary and cultural studies, oral histories, collaborative workshops, and dialogue-based inquiry. The initiative brings together scholars from diverse fields, including history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and the arts, to encourage multifaceted perspectives. By focusing on the Mediterranean’s historical role as a sea of exchange between communities, MEDINA highlights its historical and contemporary legacy, where diverse communities have contributed to a shared history of layered intellectual, scientific, artistic, and social passages.

And, importantly, by moving beyond North-South binaries and embracing civilizational networks, MEDINA inspires new ways of thinking that honour the Mediterranean’s tradition of interconnectedness.

Vision 

“The MEDINA Initiative is a call to excavate the Mediterranean’s intricate historical networks that have shaped communities across its shores while creating new avenues for dialogue, academic engagement and informing policies. By doing so, we aim to challenge contemporary prejudices and move beyond narrative silos that divide and polarise.” — Dr Khalid Al Khater, President and Founder, New Ground Research.

Reframing the Mediterranean

The launch of the MEDINA Initiative through the Forum revives a critical, long-overdue conversation: The Mediterranean Sea as not a dividing line, but a shared space where centuries of political, cultural, economic, and intellectual exchange have inextricably linked and shaped communities and spaces along its shores and beyond.

By framing the Mediterranean as a shared civic and cultural space, the Forum also challenges contemporary divides through highlighting the region’s enduring networks of exchange, migration and mutual influence.

The Mediterranean as a Compass

The MEDINA initiative is rooted in New Ground Research’s mission to foster a shared and responsible future, where envisioning a better future by reflecting on the nuances of the past and present underpins every aspect of the initiative. 

MEDINA stands as a testament to the power of shared history and inclusive dialogue, paving the way for greater understanding and collaboration across the Mediterranean— and beyond.