Welcome to the premiere episode of the Interfaiths podcast with Dr. Iqbal Akhtar. In this episode, we are honored to host Dr. Mohammad Homayounvash, Director of the Jaffer Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Education at Miami Dade College.
Together, they discuss the critical shift from "hardcore" international security studies to a more holistic approach that includes civilizational and religious identity. Dr. Homayounvash shares his unique perspective on growing up in Iran, his academic journey, and how the "Miami Model" of interfaith relations is fostering intercultural literacy in South Florida.
Key Topics Discussed:
From Realism to Religion: Why international relations must include identity politics.
The Andalusian Ideal: Can we recreate the collaborative ecosystem of Muslims, Jews, and Christians from historical Spain in the 21st century?
Cultural DNA vs. Religion: How stripping away cultural "accessories" makes dialogue easier.
AI & Bias: The dangers of algorithmic bias and Islamophobia in Large Language Models (LLMs).
Building Bridges: Moving beyond theological debate to cultural connection through art, food, and philosophy.
About the Guest: Dr. Mohammad Homayounvash is the Director of the Jaffer Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Education at Miami Dade College and a professor of International Relations at FIU and the University of Miami.
For more information, please visit interfaiths.substack.com or theeastwestfoundation.org
