Organizers:

University of Gdańsk, Poland

University of São Paulo, Brazil

In Mind Support, Poland


Scientific Committee:

Prof. Wojciech Owczarski, University of Gdańsk

Prof. Paulo Endo, University of São Paulo


Our world becomes more and more dangerous. Populists come to power, people all around the globe support xenophobic dictators, and the future of humankind goes in an unpredictable direction. Therefore, during our interdisciplinary conference we would like to discuss some crucial questions: What is the source of intolerance and discrimination in the contemporary world? Is terrorism a “natural” consequence of intolerance? How should we react to acts of intolerance, discrimination and terrorism?

We will describe the phenomena of intolerance, discrimination and terrorism in political, social, psychological, cultural and many other terms. We also want to devote considerable attention to how these phenomena are represented in artistic practices: in literature, film, theatre or visual arts.



We invite researchers representing various academic disciplines: history, politics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, economics, law, literary studies, theatre studies, film studies, fine arts, memory studies, migration studies, consciousness studies, dream studies, gender studies, postcolonial studies, medical sciences, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, cognitive sciences etc.

Different forms of presentations are encouraged, including case studies, theoretical investigations, problem-oriented arguments, and comparative analyses.

We will be happy to hear from both experienced scholars and young academics at the start of their careers, as well as doctoral and graduate students. We also invite all persons interested in participating in the conference as listeners, without giving a presentation.

We hope that due to its interdisciplinary nature, the conference will bring many interesting observations on and discussions about intolerance, discrimination and terrorism in the past and in the present-day world.


Our repertoire of suggested topics includes but is not restricted to:



I. Intolerance

- Intolerance and race

- Intolerance and religion

- Intolerance and nationalism

- Intolerance and gender

- Intolerance and age

- Intolerance at school

- Intolerance in family

- Tolerance towards intolerance



II. Discrimination

- Discrimination against elderly people

- Discrimination against children

- Discrimination against women

- Discrimination against men

- Discrimination against people with disabilities

- Discrimination against the mentally ill

- Discrimination against the addicts

- Discrimination against the rich

- Discrimination against the poor

- Discrimination against animals

- Economic discrimination

- Genetic discrimination

- Discrimination based on sexual preferences

- Nationalism

- Antisemitism

- Racism

- Colorism (discrimination based on skin color)

- Sizeism (discrimination based on a person’s size)

- Reverse discrimination (affirmative action, positive discrimination)


III. Terrorism

- Political terrorism

- Ideological terrorism

- Religious terrorism

- State terrorism

- Intimate terrorism

- Terrorism and fundamentalism

- Terrorism and mental health

- Terrorism and freedom

- Cultural aspects of terrorism



IV. Finding solutions

- Anti-discrimination law

- Anti-terrorist law

- Human rights organizations

- Humanitarian missions

- Democratic education

- Pro-tolerance campaigns



V. Literature, film and the arts

- Literature and art about intolerance, discrimination and terrorism

- Artists engaged in fighting intolerance, discrimination and terrorism

- Artists-terrorists

- Artists as victims of discrimination

- Literature and art engaged in ideologies

- Terrorism in the media



Please submit abstracts (no longer than 300 words) of your proposed 20-minute presentations, together with a short biographical note, by 12 March 2017 to:

intolerance2017@gmail.com

Confirmation of acceptance will be sent by 15 March 2017.

The conference language is English.