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GLOBALIZATION, DIFFERENCE, AND HUMAN SECURITY
A Major International Conference
March 12-14, 2008
10am-6pm
at Osaka University Nakanoshima Center, 10th floor
Organized by
Global COE “A Research Base for Conflict Studies in the Humanities”, and
Global Collaboration Center (GLOCOL)
Osaka University
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Conference Proposal
List of Presenters and Paper Titles
Conference Program
Access Map
Related Links
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Conference Proposal
Human Security (HS) discourses have entered a globalized world of connectivity and difference largely silenced under the comforting gaze of the national imaginary and its attendant homogenization of space and identity. Drawn from economistic readings of the ‘vital core’ of human lives, developmentalist thinking has marginalized the cultural constitution of societal relations and the symbolic universe of agents under threat. The rearticulation of space and time produces new challenges for HS by redefining social relations, disrupting life-worlds, but it also presents new opportunities for reconstituting identities. Globalizing trends bring to center-stage the question of difference, not as a residual feature of the human material condition, subordinated to physical, economic, political or environmental phenomena, but a nodal point of ‘human’ security.
Globalization entails both the intensification of scalar connections and their disintegrating effects on community, identity and forms of life. The most recognizable effect of globalization-from-above is the diminishing capacity of the State in much of the Global South in favor of managerial forms of top-down governance and the widening gulf between the privileged and the destitute. Ravages of intra-state wars, displacements of populations, and the reproduction of ‘societies of war’ have taken an unprecedented toll on human lives. Less visible in the widening compass of human insecurity is a diminution in cultural capacity, the ability to provide the minimum conditions of coherent and integrated meaning in a rapidly changing social world.
These developments necessitate the reinvigoration of the conversation on HS by reframing its conceptual interior in two principal ways: (1) an appreciation of the shifting terrain of globalization with an emphasis on difference; and (2) by recognizing new forms, modes, and sources of ‘meaning’ for vulnerable populations. While the former would allow a study of the mixed and separate effects of globalization, the latter would shift the foci of HS to the perspective of agents and their habitus. The disintegration of meaning-making resources under the impact of globalization-from-above necessitates a strategic shift in the conception of HS. On this view, HS cannot be divorced from the capacity of agents to produce new symbolic universes that allow sufficient depth to absorb the pressures of rapid and potentially disorienting change.
Conference Theme
Organized under the auspices of GLOCOL and a Global COE Program at Osaka University, this international conference on Globalization, Difference, and Human Security seeks to advance HS Studies by reframing the concept of human security. How does the notion of ‘difference’ offer new avenues to capture human insecurity on a world scale? What are the interconnections between cultural disintegration and new registers of ethnic, religious, or sectarian conflicts? What are the contradictory effects of top-down globalization and the emergence of transcultural identities? Is multiculturalism an adequate framework to cope with the erosion of homogenizing impulses? Can new capacities be created in the context of globalizing processes that mitigate conflict? What is the impact of social connectedness on a world scale on the emergence of transcultural modalities of identity formation and identity management? Can the processes of economic and political transition under conditions of time-space compression fruitfully permit individuals and communities to avoid cultural involution or homogenization? These questions underpin the conference theme, necessitating an interdisciplinary conversation in the humanities.
Sub-Themes
To deepen the conversation, the conference will explore three interlinked sub-themes: (1) Globalization and Difference; (2) The Nature of Human Security in a world of globalizing connectivity and fracture; (3) The Limits and Strengths of Multiculturalism and Transculturalism. These sub-themes challenge the positivist inclination to reduce HS to a statistical artifact, but also compel recognition of the question of difference in any meaningful understanding of the ‘vital core.’ The discussion of the nexus between globalization and transculturalism is not one of semantics, but substantive and strategic importance. Globalization, at least in its dominant version, suggests homogenization and the rise of a ‘flat’ world. Conversely, it suggests resistance of particularism to universalism. In both instances, the complexity and contradictory nature of globalization is not captured as a totality. The language of ‘difference’ suggests an alternative, but is this an adequate alternative? An examination of this question may suggest new pathways to understand the character of HS in the context of increased global interconnectedness.
Participants
The participants in this international conference are drawn from a variety of disciplines in the humanities to preserve interdisciplinarity, but also to appreciate the heterodox character of a conversation based on a confluence of multiple geo-epistemological sites. The conference promises to break new ground in the arena of HS Studies through shared knowledge amongst the leading scholars in the social sciences, based in Japan and in several key cultural zones elsewhere.
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List of Presenters and Paper Titles
1. Professor Anna M. AGATHANGELOU
York University, Canada
Neoliberal and Terror-Necrotic Regimes and the New World War Order: Sacrifice Economies, Insecurities and Eurasia
2. Professor Pinar BILGIN
Bilkent University, Turkey
Globalization of World Politics, Transformation of “Traditional” Societies and Persistence of Human Insecurities
3. Professor David CHANDLER
University of Westminster, UK
Human Security: The Dog That Didn’t Bark
4. Professor Matt DAVIES
Newcastle University, UK
Culture and Globalization Revisited: Transculturality, Creative Practice, or Oeuvre? A Critique of Neo-Smithian Conceptions
5. Professor Siba N’Zatioula GROVOGUI
John Hopkins University, USA
Timbuktu Was Never Far Away: The Rule of Law, Transhumance, and Citizenship after September 11, 2001
6. Professor Sandra HALPERIN
Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Globalization, Nationality, and Human Insecurity: Reflections on Local and World History
7. Professor Noriko HATAYA
Sophia University, Japan
Resource Mobilization under Extreme Conditions: Community-Based Local Development and Peace-Initiative in Colombia
8. Professor Eiichi HOSHINO
University of the Ryukyus, Japan
Human Security in Okinawa
9. Professor Branwen Gruffydd JONES
Goldsmith College, University of London, UK
Human (In) Security in the Neoliberal City: A Postcolonial Perspective
10. Professor Junji KOIZUMI
Osaka University, Japan
Human Security and Interpretive Approach
11. Professor Eisei KURIMOTO
Osaka University, Japan
Human (In)Security under War Situation: The Case of Southern Sudan
12. Professor Yoichi MINE
Osaka University, Japan
Human Security: A Conceptual Exploration
13. Professor Kuniko MIYANAGA
Tama University, Japan
Globalization and Identity
14. Professor Craig N. MURPHY
Harvard University, USA
Can the Human Security Paradigm Inform an International Relations that Accepts Difference?
15. Professor Jan NEDERVEEN PIETERSE
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Global Multiculture: Cultures, Transnational Cultures, Deep Culture
16. Professor Claudio González PARRA
Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Different Indigenous Identities in a Semi-Globalized Context: Symbolization and Cultural Recognition
17. Professor Mustapha Kamal PASHA
University of Aberdeen, UK
Islam, Nihilism, and Human Insecurity
18. Professor Vanessa PUPAVAC
Nottingham University, UK
Human Security and the International Crisis of Meaning
19. Professor Anca PUSCA
University of Birmingham, UK
Space and Human Insecurity: The Case of Transitioning Central and Eastern Europe
20. Professor Sherene RAZACK
University of Toronto, Canada
Gender, Race, and the Casting Out of Muslims from Political Community: The Psychic Foundations of Human (In) Security
21. Professor Makoto SATO
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Human Security and Japanese Perception
22. Professor Yasunobu SATO
University of Tokyo, Japan
The Rule of Law, but Whose Law? Law and Judicial Reform Assistance in Peace-building in Asia
23. Professor Sanjay SETH
Goldsmith College, University of London, UK
Globalization as the End of Difference? A Postcolonial Dissent
24. Professor Giorgiandrea SHANI
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Towards a Critical Human Security Paradigm: Globalization, Human In/Security and Cultural Diversity
25. Professor Timothy M. SHAW
University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
Africa and Elusive ‘Human Security’ in the 21st Century: Insights from a ‘Problematic’ ‘Liberal Peace’ in Uganda
26. Professor Robbie SHILLIAM
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
The "Human" as Interpolated Subject: Maori Struggles In New Zealand and the Antinomies of "Human Security" as a Concept
27. Professor Angharad Closs STEPHENS
Durham University, UK
Time, Community, and Human Security
28. Professor Seira TAMANG
Centre for Social Research and Development, Nepal
Gender, Citizenship and Human Insecurity
29. Professor Yumiko TOKITA-TANABE
Osaka University, Japan
Recognizing Ontological Equality: Rethinking the Cultural Resources for Negotiating Differences in Orissa, India
30. Professor Hiroyuki TOSA
Kobe University, Japan
"New Wars" under Neo-liberal Global Governance: Beyond Absolute Antagonism
31. Professor Peter VALE
Rhodes University, South Africa
Human Security and the Chimera of Globalization
32. Professor Heloise WEBER
University of Queensland, Australia
Cultural Politics of Globalization and Human (In) Securities
33. Professor Martin WEBER
University of Queensland, Australia
The Fantastic Social World of Human Security through Global Governance: Notes Towards a Critique
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Conference Program
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
0900-1000 Registration
1000-1010 Welcome: Professor Eisei KURIMOTO, Osaka University, Japan
Director GLOCOL
1010-1020 Opening Address: Professor Kiyokazu WASHIDA
President of Osaka University, Japan
1020-1045 Conference Theme: Professors Eisei KURIMOTO, Yoichi MINE &
Mustapha Kamal PASHA (Co-conveners)
1045-1200 SESSION I
Rethinking Human Security: Conceptual and Historical Possibilities
Chair: Professor Sandra HALPERIN, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Presenters:
Professor David CHANDLER, Westminster University, UK
Human Security: the Dog That Didn’t Bark
Professor Craig N. MURPHY, Harvard University, USA
Can the Human Security Paradigm Inform an International Relations that Accepts Difference?
Professor Heloise WEBER, University of Queensland, Australia
Cultural Politics of Globalization and Human (In) Securities
Professor Giorgiandrea SHANI, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Towards a Critical Human Security Paradigm: Globalization, Human In/Security and Cultural Diversity
1200-1400 LUNCH
1400-1545 SESSION II
The National Imaginary, Globalization, and Human Security
Chair: Professor Yoichi MINE, Osaka University, Japan
Presenters:
Professor Jan NEDERVEEN PIETERSE, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign, USA
Global Multiculture: Cultures, Transnational Culture, Deep Culture
Professor Kuniko MIYANAGA, Tama University, Japan
Globalization and Identity
Professor Matt DAVIES, Newcastle University, UK
Culture and Globalization Revisited: Transculturality, Creative Practice, or Oeuvre? A Critique of Neo-Smithian Conceptions
Professor Sanjay SETH, Goldsmith College, University of London, UK
Globalization as the End of Difference? A Postcolonial Dissent
1545-1600 TEA/COFFEE BREAK
1600-1800 SESSION III
Neoliberal Governance and Difference after 9/11 & 7/7
Chair: Mustapha Kamal PASHA, University of Aberdeen, UK
Presenters:
Professor Sherene RAZACK, University of Toronto, Canada
Gender, Race, and the Casting Out of Muslims from Political Community
Professor Hiroyuki TOSA, Kobe University, Japan
“New Wars” under Neoliberal Governance: Beyond Absolute Antagonism
Professor Angharad Closs STEPHENS, Durham University, UK
Time, Community, and Human Security
Professor Siba N’Zatioula GROVOGUI, John Hopkins University, USA
Timbuktu Was Never Far Away: the Rule of Law, Transhumance, and Citizenship after September 11, 2001
Professor Anna M. AGATHANGELOU, York University, Canada
Neoliberal and Terror-Necrotic Regimes and the New World Order: Sacrifice
Economies, Insecurities and Eurasia
1800 ADJOURNMENT
Thursday, March 13, 2008
0900-1000 Registration
1000-1200 SESSION IV
Human Security in a ‘Neoliberal’ Global Context
Chair: Professor Eisei KURIMOTO, Osaka University, Japan
Presenters:
Professor Yasunobu SATO, University of Tokyo, Japan
The Rule of Law, but Whose Law? Law and Judicial Reform Assistance in Peace-Building in Asia
Professor Claudio González PARRA, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Different Indigenous Identities in a Semi-Globalized Context: Symbolization and Cultural Recognition
Professor Noriko HATAYA, Sophia University, Japan
Resource Mobilization under Extreme Conditions: Community-Based Local Development
and Peace-Initiative in Colombia
Professor Timothy M. SHAW, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
Africa and Elusive ‘Human Security’ in the 21st Century: Insights from a ‘Problematic’ ‘Liberal Peace’ in Uganda
1200-1400 LUNCH
1400-1545 SESSION V
The Antinomies of Globalization and Human (In) Security
Chair: Professor Junji KOIZUMI, Osaka University, Japan
Presenters:
Professor Sandra HALPERIN, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Globalization, Nationality, and Human Insecurity: Reflections on Local and World History
Professor Peter VALE, Rhodes University, South Africa
Human Security and the Chimera of Globalization
Professor Branwen Gruffydd JONES, Goldsmith College, University of London, UK
Human (In) Security in a Neoliberal City: A Postcolonial Perspective
Professor Martin WEBER, University of Queensland, Australia
The Fantastic Social World of Human Security through Global Governance: Notes Towards a Critique
1545-1600 TEA/COFFEE BREAK
1600-1800 SESSION VI
Interpolation, Human Security, and the ‘Crisis of Meaning’
Chair: Professor David CHANDLER, Westminster University, UK
Presenters:
Professor Anca PUSCA, University of Birmingham, UK
Space and Human Insecurity: The Case of Transitioning Central and Eastern Europe
Professor Robbie SHILLIAM, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
The ‘Human’ as Interpolated Subject: Maori Struggles in New Zealand and the Antinomies of ‘Human Security’ as a Concept
Professor Vanessa PUPAVAC, Nottingham University, UK
Human Security and the International Crisis of Meaning
Professor Mustapha Kamal PASHA, University of Aberdeen, UK
Islam, Nihilism, and Human Insecurity
1800 ADJOURNMENT
Friday, March 14, 2008
0900-1000 Registration
1000-1200 SESSION VII
Non-Western Perspectives on Human Security
Chair: Professor Craig N. MURPHY, Harvard University, USA
Presenters:
Professor Junji Koizumi, Osaka University, Japan
Human Security and Interpretative Approach
Professor Pinar BILGIN, Bilkent University, Turkey
Globalization of World Politics, Transformation of “Traditional” Societies and Persistence of Human Insecurities
Professor Makoto SATO, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Human Security and Japanese Perception
Professor Yoichi MINE, Osaka University, Japan
Human Security: A Conceptual Exploration
1200-1345 LUNCH
1345-1530 SESSION VIII
Human Security in Global and Local Contexts
Chair: Professor Siba N’Zatioula GROVOGUI, John Hopkins University, USA
Presenters:
Professor Eisei KURIMOTO, Osaka University, Japan
Human (In) security under War Situation: The Case of Southern Sudan
Professor Seira TAMANG, Centre for Social Research and Development, Nepal
Gender, Citizenship, and Human Insecurity
Professor Yumiko TOKITA-TANABE, Osaka University, Japan
Recognizing Ontological Equality: Rethinking the Cultural Resources for
Negotiating Differences in Orissa, India
Professor Eiichi HOSHINO, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
Human Security in Okinawa
1530-1600 TEA/COFFEE BREAK
1600-1800 SESSION IX
Open Discussion
Chair: Professor Junji KOIZUMI, Osaka University, Japan
1800 CLOSE
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Access Map
Osaka University Nakanoshima Center [PDF file 915KB]
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Related Links
Global Collaboration Center (GLOCOL)
Rihga Grand Hotel
2-3-18, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0005, Japan
Phone: +81-(0)6-6202-1212 Fax: +81-(0)6-6227-5054
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