October is a beautiful time to visit Kyoto. It is the time when the autumn leaves change into vibrant reds.
So what better time to visit the city to discuss the key intra-cultural development issues with like individuals and organizations?
The OICD’s third conference will attract academics, professionals, and governmental and NGO representatives to discuss the theme:
Sustainable Identities, Cohesive Communities
An Interdisciplinary Investigation into Intra-Cultural Development Theory and Practice
Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
2012 October Thursday 18th- Sunday 21st
Abstract
Questions of identity—how people feel connected to national, cultural, ethnic, religious communities and images—are at the heart of many of today’s local and global problems. Yet, these same identities also potentially present opportunities to bring about solutions to the problems they pose. Intra-Cultural Development is an interdisciplinary approach which attempts to engage human identities as a means to resolve problems of conflict, prejudice and intolerance.
An understanding of identity is essential, whether we are trying to: merely describe the world in which we live; deal with localised prejudice; build successful cultural/national integration policies; or set out to resolve violent and non-violent conflicts. This conference sets out to provide academics, governmental and non-governmental representatives and professionals with a series of practical and theoretical examples that illustrate how understanding the key mechanisms of identity formation and change can facilitate an increased efficiency in the crafting of social cohesion on the local, national or regional level.
The conference aims to provide a forum for people working in a wide range of academic and professional fields including: community development, anthropology, policy studies, psychology, development programming, international relations, conflict mitigation and resolution, and media studies.
Themes and example content:
Identity Formation & Change: Models and Mechanisms
- How and why do identities develop and change in the complex ways that they do?
- How are identities expressed through the manipulation of various symbols and images? .
Working with Identities: Applying Theoretical Understanding to Practice
- What kind of solutions and issues are professionals and practitioners implementing based on their experiences in the field or workplace?
- What tools are in development to facilitate more effective policy development and implementation based on experience and understandings of identity?
Engaging Identities: New Ways of Reaching the Population
- How are professionals and practitioners choosing to engage the identities they identify?
- What are the results and necessary safeguards of engaging identities in the field?
Location
The conference will be hosted at the prestigious Doshisha University (est. 1875) which is located
on the north side of Kyoto’s Imperial Palace Grounds.
Who can participate?
Sessions are open to academics, practitioners, policy-makers, professionals, governmental and NGO representatives. Graduate students and trainees from within related fields are welcome.
How to Make a Contribution
Please submit a 250 word abstract of your contribution. Contributions may be in the form of: research projects, program reports, case studies, or other form relevant to the discourse of your profession. Contributors will be allotted 15 minutes (including questions) and contributions will be made within facilitated conversation sessions which will each set out to develop sets of common understandings of what can be achieved with the available knowledge and expertise of fellow participants.
Please send your abstract to kyoto2012&oicd.net (where &=@) by July 15, 2012. Your contribution will be assigned to the most relevant thematic session.
More Information
For more information on this conference including accommodation and location information please visit browse the links to the top right and/or visit the facebook event page.
The conference is currently accepting paper abstracts (see above) and is open for registration.
Contact us with any immediate queries.
The information on this page is also available as a pdf file.
