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Call for Papers "Relativising Universalism - or the Clash of Civilizations? Debating the Future of Human Rights" Human Rights and Global Ethics Graduate Conference Centre for Global Ethics, University of Birmingham Birmingham (UK) 24-25 May 2007 __________________________________________________ The Centre for the Study of Global Ethics, University of Birmingham is pleased to announce its inaugural Human Rights and Global Ethics Graduate Conference. The conference will take place 24th 25th May 2007 at the University of Birmingham. We invite papers for consideration from graduate students of any discipline. Following the institutionalization of human rights in the aftermath of World War II in Western Europe and North America, cultural relativists and universalists have become increasingly vociferous in the emerging sphere of human rights discourse. This debate upon which the fulcrum of human rights should turn has been revived in regular intervals; on an abstract theoretical level founded on empirical research, in the emergence of international law, and for political purposes. Whereas cultural relativists criticised universal human rights for supporting forms of cultural hegemony and Neo-Colonialism, universalists argued for the necessity of homogenous human rights on a global scale. Universal Human Rights has faced its most difficult challenges in recent years. The reality of a multi-cultural society, the reality of a multi-cultural world where local custom and focus on the common, rather than individual good, have raised difficult questions for the legitimacy of a homogenous diktat of human rights. Conversely, Cultural Human Rights face many challenges from those who believe in non-derogable rights applicable equally, by virtue of being human, to every human being in the world. These challenges have made it obvious that both positions can be exploited for political power and could suggest that that there may be a need for an alternative approach to human rights if this concept of human rights can be applied and upheld. It is the aim of this graduate conference to establish and challenge different conceptual positions as well as finding alternative approaches to human rights, theoretically and practically. - Is there a true conflict between the cultural relativist and universalist? - If so, how can this conflict be overcome, theoretically and practically? - Do we need a third way after all? - The role of intercultural dialogue in establishing a minimum human rights framework - Moral theory and Human Rights - Womens Rights & Minority Rights - Political viability of Cultural/Universal Human Rights - The Limitations of International Human Rights Law for universalism/ relativism - Can/ should law be the foremost protector of human rights? Please submit abstracts for blind review as Word attachments, maximum 500 words, by 9th April 2007. Please see our website for further information: http://www.philosophy.bham.ac.uk/whatson.htm Contact: Harriet Hoffler or Anna Muller-Funk Center for Global Ethics University of Birmingham Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.philosophy.bham.ac.uk/whatson.htm __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
