The Asia Symposium on Culture, Policy and Education
April 24-26, 2016 at the KKR Hiroshima
Submissions Extended to Friday, March 11, 2016
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The 2016 Asian Symposium on Culture, Policy and Education »
In an increasingly globalized Asia, the impact of social change because of the economic, industrial and political developments among the nations that are located within it has been rapid and immense. Within a span of just over a century, Asia has been a major site of colonialism and decolonization; global warfare; political upheaval and regime change; the rise of new nations; ongoing ethnic and religious conflict; economic boom and recession; population explosion; cultural diasporas; viral epidemics; technological advancement; and severe environmental pollution and disasters.
While commentators and analysts have rightly recognized the vast changes that have shaped the Asian continent, it is also crucial to understand the continuities that are maintained even in the face of such impetus for change. Apart from change, what are the constants that are still resistant to change? In addition, what are the factors that have contributed to such ongoing resilience? Although it may be argued that the forces of globalization and development have set in motion a number of positive changes in the ways we live our lives, this has also been counterbalanced by the continuities of inequality and suffering for many others. More than often, the tide of change exists in a state of tension with the forces of continuity. Hence, in order for us to comprehend the forces of change, we must also engage the other forces that hold it back.
At the same time, attempts to mediate the tension between change and continuity have given rise to growing diversities. Driven partly by the forces of migration within a global economic order often guided by transnational markets of production or consumption, new political and social-cultural fragmentations and intersections within nation-states in Asia have emerged. In the face of such developments, the implications and challenges to efforts at sustainability are numerous. While it is increasing recognized that sustainability entails dimensions far beyond the ecological sphere, the next step is to examine and understand the impact of change and continuity and the resultant diversities that are contained within.
This inaugural 3-day symposium will provide an interdisciplinary platform for academics, researchers, policy makers, students and interested community members. With the theme Culture, Education and Policy: Agents of Change, the symposium will be a wonderful opportunity to explore current research, trends, and insights about this phenomenon while expanding your professional networks.
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