From: John Darby <j.da...@ulster.ac.uk>
Call for Papers "Peacebuilding after Peace Accords" RIREC: The Research Initiative on the Resolution of Ethnic Conflict Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies University of Notre Dame September 11-13 2003 Deadline for Submissions: April 30, 2003 On September 11-13 the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame will host a conference on peacebuilding after peace accords. Post-accord problems: Peace accords in ethnic conflicts generally mark only two achievements. First, they indicate an agreement in principle between conflicting groups. Second, they set out an agenda, and often timetables, to implement change. They are a start, not a conclusion. Many peace processes collapse, not only during the early stages when suspicions are most high, but when most people think the deal has been made. The banal truth is that it takes time to make fundamental changes, and that delay leaves a vacuum. The vacuum is filled by threats that may overturn the agreement: violence from spoilers; disputes over new institutions; problems associated with conflict transformation; underlying fears and suspicions. These are among the concerns of the RIREC conference. RIREC: RIREC, the Research Initiative on the Resolution of Ethnic Conflict, was established by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies in 2000. RIREC is primarily concerned with post-accord problems and reconstruction, and is focusing initially on three specific post-accord problems: violence; youth/the next generation; and truth telling and peacebuilding. Three international groups of practitioners and scholars have been assembled to investigate these themes, led by John Darby (Violence), Siobhan McEvoy Levy (Youth/the next generation) and Tristan Anne Borer (Truth telling and peacebuilding). More information on the Kroc Institute, and on the RIREC project and participants, may be obtained at http://www.nd.edu/~krocinst/research/rirec.html. The Conference: The three main RIREC themes - violence, young people, and truth-telling - will form the core of the conference, and papers will be presented by the RIREC contributors. The conference organizers are eager to consider the inclusion of papers on these three themes, as well as on other post-accord issues. A list of the confirmed RIREC speakers may be accessed on the Kroc website. In addition to conference sessions, four additional events have been arranged to reflect a concern with practice and policy issues. These four sessions will be open to the public. - A keynote address by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. - An academic keynote address by Johan Galtung. - An International Youth Panel of young people working on peace building projects in several post-accord contexts. - A Round-table case study, focusing in detail on a contemporary peace process. South Africa has been selected, and the case study will isolate its post-accord problems, consider how they have been approached, or not, and auditing the present situation there. The round-table discussion will include input from experts and general discussion. All participants will be encouraged to look for lessons provided by South Africa's example for other peace processes. Conference registration and organization: Full details of registration and fees will be distributed at a later date to presenters and other participants, but is likely to be in the region of $150. The conference fee will cover refreshments, three lunches and two dinners. Accommodation is not part of the Conference Package. A list of suitable accommodation in proximity to the Conference venue will be provided later. Submitting a paper for consideration: If you wish to have a paper considered for inclusion, or to attend the conference, please contact the RIREC coordinator, A. Rashied Omar, with the following information: a paper title; an abstract of up to 250 words; your name and full contact details including e-mail address; a short bio of less than 50 words. Proposals may be made either by e-mail, by mail or by fax. Deadline for submitting abstracts or panel proposals: April 30 2003. For all inquiries please contact the RIREC coordinator: A. Rashied Omar The Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies University of Notre Dame P.O. Box 639 Notre Dame, Indiana 46556-0639 USA Tel: + (574) 631-7740 Fax:+ (574) 631-6973 EMAIL: oma...@nd.edu Please feel free to copy to associates or colleagues working on these issues. -- InterPhil List Administration: http://www.polylog.org/interphil/ Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://www.polylog.org/agd/cal/
