Newsweek is creating a global forum for opinion makers and thought leaders to debate the most important issues of our time

Newsweek, the iconic American magazine, is creating a global forum for opinion makers and thought leaders to debate the most important issues of our time.

Newsweek's "The Debate" platform will give politicians, business leaders, activists, academics and entrepreneurs an opportunity to challenge and discuss the views of similarly accomplished and influential people who disagree with them. The debates - in columns, video and live events - will provide participants access to the more than 60 million people who read and watch Newsweek every month.

"Newsweek has always prided itself on being a platform for diverse voices and points of view," said Nancy Cooper, Newsweek's Global Editor In Chief. "Our goal is to facilitate engagement, not agreement. In the age of hyper-partisan media coverage and a toxic social media environment, that mission is even more important and relevant to our work today."

The Debate will focus initially on seven major themes: Brexit and the Future of Europe, the U.S. Election, the Robot Economy, the Response to Climate Change, the Future of Privacy, Reimagining Cities and the New Middle East. Newsweek is engaging high profile columnists with fundamentally different ideas about each of these issues.

"The Debate platform — which is independent from our newsroom — shows Newsweek's firm commitment to offering views from across the recognized political and ideological spectrum. The objective is to promote meaningful conversation between those who hold opposing views," said Dev Pragad, CEO of Newsweek. "Creating space for informed debate is a service to our readers and consistent with our mission, and central to the healthy functioning of a pluralist society."

The Debate platform will soon feature several hundred writers.

As with any opinion or commentary section, Newsweek does not endorse any particular view expressed by the columnists.