An international, interdisciplinary research conference
on the diversity of conceptions and cultural images of conflicts

www.understandingconflicts.net

Conflicts are part of human life--depending on the competences of all participants, they may lead into harmful disturbance or be the source of authentic social innovation. Recently the public focus has been on conflicts due to cultural (including ethnic and religious) diversity. Often overlooked, however, is the fact that different cultures not only generate conflicts but also impose on agents different 'conflict cultures --preferences for certain types of conflict dynamics (war, settlements, reconciliation) and predispositions for certain forms of epistemic approach (rational analysis, psychological hermeneutics, deep orientation). Attention to differences in cultural images of conflicts--the agentive understanding of sources, dynamics, and possible transformations of conflicts--is of central significance for conflict transformation in societies with cultural diversity.

UC-2008 is the first of a series of large international interdisciplinary meetings that will bring together researchers working on the analysis and transformation of conflicts due to cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. Our invited speakers are international lead figures in conflict research, sociology, political science, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, sociology, the history of ideas, theology, and religious studies.

We invite submissions of abstracts on any of the 60 conference sessions, including workshop sessions, praxis reports, and panel discussion sessions. For tracks and topics see the conference website. Deadline: March 20. Conference papers will be published in an anthology and 2 special issues of international journals.


Since UC2008 is a cross-disciplinary research meeting, all invited speakers are briefly introduced at www.understandingconflictsnet.

Keynote Speakers*

Russell Hardin
Pumla Goboda-Madikizelan
Ron Pundak
Amina Wadud

Invited Speakers*

Zygmont Baumann, Dept. of Sociology, University of Leeds, Great Britain
William Connolly, Dept. of Political Science, John Hopkins University
Daniel Druckman, Dept. of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University, USA, and School of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Queensland, Australia.
Peter Coleman, International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution, Columbia University
Marc Gopin, Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
Ervin Staub, Dept. of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, USA
Toh Swee Hin, Multi-Faith Centre of Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia
Alain Touraine, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Paris, France
Jan Oberg, The Transnational Foundation for Peace and Futures Research, Sweden
Marc Howard Ross, Dept. for Peace and Conflict Studies, Bryn Mawr University, USA
Douglas P. Fry, Dept. for Social Sciences, Åbo University, Finland
Sohail Hashmi, Dept. of International Relations, Mount Holyoke College, USA
Michiaki Okuyama, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan
Dominique-Sila Khan, Institute for Rajasthan Studies, Jaipur, India
Christopher Mitchell, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
Fernando Rendon, Director of the International Poetry Festival of Medellin.
Augustine Shutte, Department of Philosophy, University of Cape Town
Karen Abi-Ezzi, Dept. for Peace Studies, University of Bradford, Great Britain
Mark Addis, Dept. of Philosophy, Birmingham City University, GB
Reinhold Bernhardt, Dept for Theology, University of Basel, Switzerland
Gordon Burt, Mathematical Social Science Program, Open University London
Chris Groves, Institute for Sociological Research on the Future, University of Cardiff, GB.
Iris Lurasi, Dept of Journalism, Tirana University, Albania, Director of the Counselling Center for Girls and Women.
Astrid Gade Nielsen, Director of Communications, Arla Foods
Kelly Oliver, Dept for Philosophy, Vanderbilt University, USA
Roberto Poli, Dept. of Sociology, University of Trento, Italy
Antonio Russo, Dept. of Theology, University of Trieste, Italy
Dorothee Schlenke, Dept. of Theology, Pedagogical University Freiburg, Germany
Levent Tezcan, Faculty of the Humanities, University of Tilburg
Thomas Brudholm, Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen
Niels-Henrik Gregersen, Department of Theology, University of Copenhagen
Robin Schott, Department for Philosophy, Danish Pedagogical University
Martijn Van Beek, Institute for Anthropology, Archeology, and Linguistics, University of Aarhus
Kees Van Kooten Niekerk, Department of Theology, University of Aarhus.
Vibeke Vindelov, University of Copenhagen, Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Law
*Some confirmations still pending.

Organizer: Department of Philosophy and the History of Ideas, University of Aarhus. Main coordinators: Johanna Seibt, Jesper Garsdal, Steen Wackerhausen.

Mailing address:
Aarhus Universitet
Institut for Filosofi og Idehistorie
Bygn.1467, 6. sal, kontor 620
Nobelparken
Jens Chr. Skousvej 7
8000 Aarhus C

Phone: + 45 8942 2216
Direct Phone: + 45 8942 1976
Fax.: + 45 8942 2223

Email: filseibt@hum.au.dk