Interpretations of Peace and Conflict: Inaugural Panel Discussion, 20 Sept. 2008

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Panel Discussion: Manufacturing Peace

Date and Time: Saturday, 20th September 2008, 7.00 to 8.30 pm

Venue: Gulmohar Hall at the India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi

Concept
The panel discussion marks the opening of a three day festival 'Interpretations of Peace and Conflict' to mark the International Peace Day (21st Sept).

Speakers include Urvashi Butalia, Deepti Priya Mehrotra, Usha Ramanathan, Anil Chaudhary, Kavita Srivastava, and Vijayan MJ.

The panel discussion is the first of a ‘dialogue-action series’, planned by us, to bring together scholars, activists, members of the community and others, who are engaging with issues of conflict and peace directly or indirectly. The framework of discussion and engagement recognizes that every conflict area has multiple narratives of how different people/ organizations see or choose to see a conflict situation, and how this defines their perspective and actions around 'peace'.

In this panel discussion, the speakers will critically look at the role of the state in the process of 'manufacturing peace', especially through its different tools and responses to managing conflict situations. As we all know, the state, has over the years, maintained that, there are certain measures that need to be taken so that peace may prevail. The anti-terror legislation, special powers to the army, restrictions on the freedom to speech and expression, clamp downs on the press, are examples of some such 'measures' adopted to maintain 'law and order' and therefore peace! It is interesting that for the state, 'peace' as a concept, raises its ugly head only in cases where violence has been explicitly used. This is despite the fact that people usually experience a denial of peace as a denial of fundamental rights or the lack of food, basic amenities and livelihood options, etc.

Should we at all accept these definitions? Should we accept the role of the state and gradually the market (aka desi and videshi corporates) in creating violence and conflict within our communities? The panel discussion aims to look at legislation, processes and responses of different actors to understand the notion of 'manufacturing peace', as it unfolds in our society.

We look forward to seeing you and hope that together, we can raise voices and fight for the right to life and peace amidst ‘terrorphobia’ and bomb blasts. We would also like you to join us for some music and dance performances as part of this festival on 21st and 22nd, details of which are also on this blog.

For details contact: +91-11-26027845/ 26033088/ 9818889108
space.kriti@gmail.com/ events.krititeam@gmail.com

Comments

geovani said…
Eran Halperin is a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology and the Stanford Center for Conflict and Negotiation at Stanford University. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology and a master's degree and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Haifa, Israel. His research interests include political-psychological aspects of conflicts, emotions in conflicts and politics, and political aspects of hostile attitudes toward minorities. Daniel Bar-Tal - Daniel Bar-Tal is professor of social psychology at the School of Education, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. His research interest is in political and social psychology studying socio-psychological foundations of intractable conflicts and peace making. He has published over 15 books and over 150 articles and chapters in major social and political psychological journals and books. He served as a President of the International Society of Political Psychology and received various awards for his work.
October 14, 2008 at 6:35 AM
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