A World Without Walls 2011
"Promoting Peace and Stability in the Mediterranean: An International Peacebuilding Congress"
Barcelona, International Conference, September 22nd - 25th, 2011
Held Parallel to "La Merce Festival 2011"
Held Parallel to "La Merce Festival 2011"
A World Without Walls is a global conference held annually by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy and other leading international organizations. Its aim is to reflect on the changing nature of international relations since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and to consider the implications of these changes for peace building and stability in different regions of the world. The 2011 conference will focus the attention of the international community on the importance of strengthening intercultural relations within the Mediterranean region. It will bring together world's leading experts in politics, diplomacy, peace & conflict, academia, and civil society, for a four-day program of lectures and discussions.
Conference Participants »
The conference is open to applications from young professionals, students and scholars, governmental and diplomatic officials, civil society practitioners, private sector representatives, journalists, and other interested stakeholders from across the world.
Program Agenda »
There is a general consensus that the process of globalization is creating a world in which individual nation states are increasingly interdependent and interconnected. National approaches to issues including international politics, trade and economics, healthcare, immigration, tourism, and climate change are therefore increasingly dependent on the policies and approaches of neighboring states and international partners. Despite this growing interdependence, there remain major cultural, political, religious, and economic disputes as well as a large number of conflicts across the world with deep-rooted historical experiences, from political conflict at the international level to violent conflict at the sub-national level. The de-escalation of these disputes and conflicts requires creative thinking and new approaches that take into account both the history of the divisions and the evolving global context within which they are set.The Mediterranean region is both the historical source of many of the world's great civilizations and a current meeting point for continents, cultures, and religions. The countries of the Mediterranean have engaged in economic, cultural and political interaction for centuries. This interaction has, through the process of globalization, led to increasing regional interdependence. Despite such interdependence, there remain both local and global clashes centered on the Mediterranean, and to ensure peace and stability in the region would have a profound impact on global politics.
It is in recognition of the changing context of international relations, and the growing importance of the Mediterranean region to global stability, that the ICD will host A World Without Walls 2011,"Promoting Peace and Stability in the Mediterranean: An International Peace building Congress".
Conference Locations
The conference will be based in Barcelona and will be hosted at a number of important political, historic, and cultural locations across the city such as the Union for the Mediterranean and UNESCO.Conference Speakers »
The speakers during the congress will include leading figures and experts from international politics, academia, the diplomatic community, civil society and the private sector, from the Mediterranean region and across the world. These speakers will include a number of individuals from the ICD Advisory Board (for further information about the Advisory Board please click here).Certificate of Attendance
All conference participants will be awarded an official certificate of attendance upon completion of the program, which will provide details of the speakers who took part and the topics discussed. Each certificate will be signed by members of the ICD's Advisory Board. (The ICD Advisory Board list can be found here).Sustainable Network »
During the program the participants will have opportunities to network amongst each other, with the speakers, as well as with ICD Advisory Board Members and partners. Conference participants will become part of a growing international network of people from across the world of diverse interests and backgrounds who share a commitment to intercultural exchange. Participants will be able to remain in touch with each other through the ICD Networks.
