A World Without Walls 2010
”An International Conference on Peacebuilding, Reconciliation and Globalization in an Interdependent World”
(Berlin; November 6th - 10th, 2010)
“War is such a terrible thing, that no man has the right to assume the responsibility of starting it”. War & Peace - Leo Tolstoy
Program Agenda
A World Without Walls 2010 will comprise lectures, panel discussions, and debates that will provide an opportunity for the audience to hear from experts and renowned figures in the respective fields. Following each component the audience will have an opportunity to discuss with the speakers in interactive question and answer sessions. The conference aims and issues have been chosen to ensure a diverse selection of topics are considered, reflecting the broad range of conflicts in the world today.“A World Without Walls 2010” will pursue the following specific aims:
- To analyze historical and contemporary case studies of disputes and conflicts from across the world to identify best practice guidelines for conflict de-escalation
- To examine how strategies for peacebuilding and reconciliation using soft power and cultural diplomacy can be implemented in crisis areas around the world
- To identify and discuss barriers to equality and coexistence, including: the digital divide, the poverty gap, membership of international organizations, minority discrimination, and trade protection
- To explore and raise awareness of new approaches to peacebuilding and reconciliation that employ soft power and cultural diplomacy
- To assess the evolution of the global political system since the fall of The Berlin Wall, with a particular focus on European integration
- To consider how governments, civil society, and the private sector can better co-operate in promoting peace and stability
- To examine the role of regional organizations and international security organizations in addressing international conflict
- To analyze the relationship between democracy, human rights, and peacebuilding in states with a history of violent conflict
The following issues will be mentioned and explored:
- International Politics in a New World Order (Focus: the UN Security Council, regional organizations, uni-polarity vs. multi-polarity)
- Cultural & Religious Disputes (Focus: Interfaith dialogue, religious extremism, religious expression and human rights, minority rights, US-Iranian relations)
- International Peaecekeeping (Focus: Sudan, D.R. Congo, Kosovo, Lebanon, Timor Leste)
- Democracy and Human Rights in Post-Conflict States (Focus: Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire)
- Alternative Approaches to Community Justice and Reconciliation (The Gacaca courts in Rwanda)
- Individual Nation States as Promoters of Peacebuilding (Focus: Norway, Denmark, Canada)
- Anti Nuclear-proliferation and the Arms Trade (Focus: The challenge of nuclear armament, arms control and the arms trade)
- International Humanitarian Law (Focus: exploring human rights violations in situations of armed conflict)
- Genocide (Focus: Bosnia, Rwanda, Sudan and the unspoken crime of Genocide)
- Northern Ireland (Focus: inter-religious conflict and the Northern Ireland Peace Process)
- The Former Yugoslavia (Focus: Kosovo, Macedonian-Greek Relations, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Spain (Focus: Basque Nationalism, Catalanism)
- Romania and Bulgaria (Focus: Minority rights)
- Belgium (Focus: Intra-national relations between the Flemish, French, & German Communities)
- Turkey (Focus: Turkey-EU Relations, Cyprus, Turkish-Greek relations, EU membership)
- Israel-Palestine (Focus: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Middle East, Iran)
- USA and Cuba (Focus: Cultural diplomacy and ideological differences)
- China (Focus: US-China relations, Japan–China relations, South China Sea disputes)
