Religion and Culture in Conflict and Peace

Website https://sites.google.com/site/religionconflictpeace/ | Edit Freely

Category Conflict; Peace; Peacebuilding; Religion; Culture; Reconciliation; Nationalism; Migration; Terrorism

Deadline: March 03, 2017 | Date: June 21, 2017-June 22, 2017

Venue/Country: University of Winchester, U.K.

Updated: 2016-10-05 21:46:10 (GMT+9)

Call For Papers - CFP

Religion and Culture in Conflict and Peace

Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd June 2017, University of Winchester

Deadline for receipt of abstracts is Friday 3rd March 2017.

A quick review of contemporary global events confirms that religion and culture are still important factors in violent struggles and conflicts around the world. Religious and cultural factors often play a dual role in as far as they are part of the problem as well as part of the solution. This inaugural international conference provides a unique opportunity to stimulate critical investigation into all aspects of the role of religion and culture in conflict and peacebuilding. It encourages contributions from academics, practitioners and policy makers and it especially welcomes scholars with an innovative and multidisciplinary focus. The conference has the explicit aim of seeking to contribute positively to peace building and conflict transformation by addressing some of the most complex and pressing challenges we face in the world today.

The conference organisers understand the contested terms ‘religion’ and ‘culture’ in their broadest and most inclusive sense; and encourage presentations which recognise and problematize religion and culture as concepts and constructs, and understand notions of conflict and peace as dynamic and fluid. They therefore welcome papers which investigate the complex interplay between religion and culture, and which address all types of structural and violent conflict, or any dimension or aspect of peacebuilding. Whilst the conference is situated at the interface between religion, culture, and peace and conflict studies the organisers recognise the significant benefits of cross and multi-disciplinary research, and welcome contributions from scholars working across a range of disciplinary fields, including international relations, political sciences, law, psychology, anthropology, cultural studies, critical theory and gender studies, and postcolonial studies, and media and journalism.

In light of the challenges faced around the world today, the organisers specifically invite contributions on the following topics:

• Religion and mass migration in Europe

• The role of religion in countering violent extremism

• The role of religion and culture in Syria and the Middle East

• Religious nationalism and violent conflict

• Religion, culture and reconciliation

• Religion and climate change

Papers on other or related subjects will be considered, and preference will be given to papers which engage with contemporary issues.. Presentations will be in English, and each speaker will be allocated 20 minutes with five minutes (not enough!!!) for discussion. Throughout the conference sessions will be allocated specifically for open discussions and networking.

Participants are invited to submit abstracts of 250-­‐300 words (in Word or Open Office format). Proposals should also include name, institutional affiliation (if relevant), a short biography (no more than 100 words) and an email address and phone number. Proposals for panel discussions (organised by the participants) will be considered. We hope to publish a selection of papers.

Deadline for receipt of abstracts is Friday 3rd March 2017.

For enquiries please contact: Rebecca.Bellamywinchester.ac.uk