Symposium Themes

“Diaspora Dialogues” is a thematic area that recognizes our global interconnectedness. Members of InterChange have a common interest in and connection to diaspora; all of us are connected to zones that are or have been involved in violent conflict or their diaspora communities. “Diaspora Dialogues” will allow for sharing of perspectives and experiences, including ways diaspora groups are affected by and can contribute to, in both positive and negative ways, conflicts in their home region. The symposium in Rwanda will allow scope for both transnational and regional diaspora dialogues.

The theme “Cultural Approaches to Peacebuilding” will focus on the theory and practice of approaches to peacebuilding inherent in a diversity of cultures, faith traditions and worldviews. These approaches may be used at any stage of the conflict cycle, including post-conflict reconciliation. At the same time, we recognize that not all traditional practices are conducive to peace, and also that these practices are dynamic and evolving and may have developed as a creative synthesis of different worldviews and cultures. Another aspect of this theme, particularly important given the international partnership quality of InterChange, is that the dominant Western approaches to peacebuilding will be treated as one of a range of different cultural practices, instead of the uncontested default approach.

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