Australia 2008 Conference Programme
The theme will link the various conflicts in the Middle East (religious and political) and the complex and increasingly contentious relationship between Islam and the West with a range of issues that have assumed increasing prominence in Asia Pacific (especially since September 11, although many of these links have a much older history). Issues to be considered by the Conference include:
- a) The relationship between the three Abrahamic faiths, its implications for conflict resolution in the Middle East, and the prospects for inter-faith and intercultural dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region generally, and in particular for multi-faith, multi-ethnic societies;
- b) Islam and the West (global and regional dimensions), especially the impact of conflicts involving Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan and the ‘war on terror’ on international relations generally, and the Asia-Pacific region in particular);
- c) The attitudes of Muslims in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan, India to events and issues in the Middle East and the way in which those events impact on their own countries;
- d) Handling of tensions since September 11, with particular reference to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand (including civil conflicts in Mindanao, South Thailand and Indonesia) – how have the major religious and ethical traditions handled these tensions?
- e) Debates within the Muslim world in relation to Islam’s self-understanding, relationship with the state, relations with other religions, and role in the international community;
- f) The implications of these developments for Australia’s relations with the region, as well as for community relations inside Australia (in particular for multiculturalism: past, present and future – and for Muslim and Indigenous communities in Australia).
The official opening of the Conference will take place in the evening of Monday 20 June 2008. This will be a significant public event, featuring a keynote address of the Conference and the participation of other eminent international scholars and practitioners.
The Conference program will include keynote addresses and other invited presentations, as well as a larger number of presentations selected through this call for papers.
Attention is drawn to two features of the conference of particular interest to postgraduate students:
- A Special Session at which postgraduate students are invited to present 20 minute papers on the ethical implications of their research (in such areas as business, health, education, communication, culture) in a global context. Postgraduate students interested in presenting papers are asked to submit proposals in response to this call for papers, in accordance with the procedures and deadlines outlined below.
- Accredited Masters Level Unit: Globalization and the Dialogue of Cultures and Religions
In conjunction with the conference the Melbourne College of Divinity has approved the teaching of a Masters level unit which may be taken by postgraduate students nationally and internally. This unit will be offered online during the period of March-June in the first semester of 2008 and the assessment of the unit will be based on postgraduate level online seminars, research tasks and forum discussions. With a strong commitment to research of high quality, a selected number of postgraduate essays may be accepted for a refereed publication. The details of the unit will in due course be available at https://www.trinitycollege.vic.edu.au/theologyonline/ and http://www.mcd.unimelb.edu.au/. Further information: Dr Ruwan Palapathwala: Email: ruwanp@trinity.unimelb.edu.au.
