Violence
2nd Global Inclusive Interdisciplinary Conference
 
Sunday 14th March 2021 - Monday 15th March 2021
Lisbon, Portugal

 
Throughout history violence has horrified and enthralled in equal measure, defining some of our most glorious and most distressing historical events. Debate continues about the nature and implications of violence within our societies even as, in the current political moment, violence continues to define the lives of people around the globe through warfare, protest, political demonstration and discrimination. Although none of this violence is new, the methods and motivations behind it may nonetheless be novel amidst an internationally harshening political climate that has seen not only actual violence but frequently the threat of violence deployed against those in the public eye. Even speech itself has been deployed as a form of violence as social media platforms offer both anonymity and global reach.
 
Our histories are littered with situations where violence has been argued to be justified, or where it was viewed as culturally acceptable, even praiseworthy. 'Just' wars are but one example, and the most obvious; retaliatory air strikes, honour killings, protections of borders, and even simply fear of others have been deployed as well. Influential authors such as George Orwell and Franz Fanon, among others, have historically advocated for the efficacy of some types of violence. Were they right? If so, who within our societies must bear the brunt of this requirement of violence and what impact does this have on them - and us?
 
Meanwhile, our entertainment media glamourises violent characters - the anti-hero, the mobster, the vigilante - and 'if it bleeds it leads' continues to influence how news is reported. How does this shape our cultural attitudes toward violence? What responsibilities does the media have to tackle violence and what does responsible reporting on violence look like in the age of easily shared social media?
 
Why has violence exerted an irresistible hold on the human psyche throughout history? To what extent is violence a universal phenomenon within societies? What, if any, circumstances make violence acceptable? What factors cause people to be violent? And what can be done by individuals and communities to prevent violence?
 
Key Topics
Our second global inclusive interdisciplinary Violence conference invites you to explore these and other questions about violence and our societies. Subject to the presentations and discussions which take place at the meeting, there is a possibility for a selective publication to emerge with the aim of engendering further interdisciplinary collaboration and discussion.
 
We welcome proposals from a wide range of perspectives and voices, on topics including but not limited to:
 
- Historical attitudes toward violence
- Specific instances of violence
- Violence and gender
- Media portrayals of violence
- Gender or racial depictions of those who commit violence
- Racism as an assumed marker of a 'violent nature'
- Gender differentiation; can women be terrorists?
- Artistic and photographic depictions of violence
- Violent protest and dissent
- Hate speech and incitement to violence
- State-sanctioned violence (war, genocide, torture, capital punishment, etc.)
- Violence and power
- How culture encourages / discourages violence
- Violence as a political tool
- Violence and the law
- Ecological and environmental violence
- Initiatives to prevent violence
- Justifiable violence
- Retaliatory violence
- Violence and reconciliation practices
 
This conference will feature a stream on activism, protest and dissent. Protest has been part of human societies for millennia. Movements such as Black Lives Matter and Me Too offer a powerful reminder of the continued relevance of activism in the 21st century. While these examples of protest share a common DNA with historical civil rights and gender equality movements, activists today operate in a world where digital technology affords particular advantages and disadvantages that have changed how we engage with protest and dissent. We now have constant access to a steady stream of information about dissatisfaction with the state of our world, who is alleged to be responsible for the situation, and who is calling for change. Consequently, it has never been easier for activists to disseminate messages, educate the public and encourage participation by like-minded people.
 
Submissions to this stream may wish to consider, but are not limited to:
- Comparative assessments of protests/movements and activists
- Historical protests/movements and activists
- Repression and restriction of protest
- Art, music, literature, film, television, theatre as activism and protest
- Personal accounts of activism and protest
- Spaces and places of dissent and activism
- Justice, activism and power
- Violent resistance vs. civil disobedience
- Nationalist and separatist movements
- Revolutionary movements
- Activism in an environment of globalisation
 
What To Send
The aim of this inclusive interdisciplinary conference and collaborative networking event is to bring people together and encourage creative conversations in the context of a variety of formats: papers, seminars, workshops, storytelling, performances, poster presentations, problem-solving sessions, case studies, panels, q and a's, round-tables etc. Creative responses to the subject, such as poetry/prose, short film screenings/original drama, installations and alternative presentation styles that engage the audience and foster debate are particularly encouraged. Please feel free to put forward proposals that you think will get the message across, in whatever form.
 
At the end of the conference we will be exploring ways in which we can develop the discussions and dialogues in new and sustainable inclusive interdisciplinary directions, including research, workshops, publications, public interest days, associations, developing courses etc which will help us make sense of the topics discussed during the meeting. There is an intention, subject to the discussions which emerge during the course of the meeting, to form a selective innovative interdisciplinary publication to engender further research and collaboration.
 
300 word proposals, presentations, abstracts and other forms of contribution and participation should be submitted by Friday 4th September 2020. Other forms of participation should be discussed in advance with the Organising Chairs.
 
All submissions will be at least double reviewed, under anonymous (blind) conditions, by a global panel drawn from members of the Project Team, The Development Team and the Advisory Board. In practice our procedures usually entail that by the time a proposal is accepted, it will have been triple and quadruple reviewed.
 
You will be notified of the panel's decision by Friday 18th September 2020.
 
If your submission is accepted for the conference, a full draft of your contribution should be submitted by Friday 15th January 2021.
 
Abstracts and proposals may be in Word, RTF or Notepad formats with the following information and in this order:
a) author(s), b) affiliation as you would like it to appear in the programme, c) email address, d) title of proposal, e) type of proposal e.g. paper presentation, workshop, panel, film, performance, etc, f) body of proposal, g) up to 10 keywords.
 
E-mails should be entitled: Violence 2 Submission
 
Where To Send
Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to the Organising Chair and the Project Administrator:
 
Emma Craddock: emma@progressiveconnexions.net
Len Capuli (Project Administrator): bratislavaviolence@progressiveconnexions.net
 
What's so Special About a Progressive Connexions Event?
A fresh, friendly, dynamic format 
At Progressive Connexions we are dedicated to breaking away from the stuffy, old-fashion conference formats, where endless presentations are read aloud off PowerPoints. We work to bring you an interactive format, where exchange of experience and information is alternated with captivating workshops, engaging debates and round tables, time set aside for getting to know each other and for discussing common future projects and initiatives, all in a warm, relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere.
 
A chance to network with international professionals
the beauty of our interdisciplinary events is that they bring together professionals from all over the world and from various fields of activity, all joined together by a shared passion. Not only will the exchange of experience, knowledge and stories be extremely valuable in itself, but we seek to create lasting, ever-growing communities around our projects, which will become a valuable resource for those belonging to them.
 
A chance to be part of constructing change
There is only one thing we love as much as promoting knowledge: promoting real, lasting social change by encouraging our participants to take collective action, under whichever form is most suited to their needs and expertise (policy proposals, measuring instruments, research projects, educational materials, etc.) We will support all such actions in the aftermath of the event as well, providing a platform for further discussions, advice from the experts on our Project Advisory Team and various other tools and intellectual resources, as needed.
 
An opportunity to discuss things that matter to you
Our events are not only about discussing how things work in the respective field, but also about how people work in that field.€“ What are the struggles, problems and solutions professionals have found in their line of work, what are the areas where better communication among specialists is needed and how the interdisciplinary approach can help bridge those gaps and help provide answers to questions from specific areas of activity.
 
An unforgettable experience
When participating in a Progressive Connexions event, there is a good chance you will make some long-time friends. Our group sizes are intimate, our venues are comfortable and relaxing and our event locations are suited to the history and culture of the event.
 
Ethos
Progressive Connexions believes it is a mark of personal courtesy and professional respect to your colleagues that all delegates should attend for the full duration of the meeting. If you are unable to make this commitment, please do not submit an abstract or proposal for presentation.
 
Please note: Progressive Connexions is a not-for-profit network and we are not in a position to be able to assist with conference travel or subsistence, nor can we offer discounts off published rates and fees.
 
Please direct all enquiries to: bratislavaviolence@progressiveconnexions.net
 
For further details and information please visit the conference web page: https://www.progressiveconnexions.net/interdisciplinary-projects/evil/violence/conferences/
 
Sponsored by: Progressive Connexions