An Accept Pluralism / IBIS one-day conference
Date: Thursday, 14th February 2013
Time: 9.15am - 5pm
Location: UCD Research Boardroom
The way in which societies deal with religious and cultural diversity continues to be a burning issue. Should this be framed in terms of toleration and mutual accommodation, in more substantial forms of recognition, or in transformative reconciliation?
This one day conference addresses the state of responses to religious and cultural diversity in Ireland, North and South. It springs from the EU FP7 project, ACCEPT Pluralism: Tolerance, Pluralism and Social Cohesion: Responding to the challenges of 21st century in Europe (2010-13), in which UCD is a partner. That project examines the treatment of indigenous and immigrant cultural and religious diversity within fifteen EU states (and one applicant country, Turkey) to investigate the current state of tolerance and the kinds of policies that need to be developed to respect diversity. In the Irish case, however, toleration and recognition can hardly be considered without reference to experiences, attitudes and policies on both sides of the border. Accordingly this conference, convened with UCD's Institute for British-Irish Studies, addresses issues of intolerance, mere tolerance and recognition as they arise in Ireland, North and South, with respect to both indigenous communities and native minorities.
It addresses institutional arrangements, public policy and social attitudes and behaviour. It also aims to examine how the frames of reference of debate in Northern Ireland and the Republic relate to one another. We address these issues in particular sessions on the areas of education and civic and political life, as well as a session that addresses the wider question of the appropriate framework within which diversity needs to be addressed in Ireland in the 21st century.
In order to promote a rich and lively exchange and debate, we have invited key representatives from relevant areas of academia, education, politics, the media and NGOs. We hope you will be interested in taking part in this event and look forward to hearing from you.
Attendance is free but places are limited so please register your participation as soon as possible.
RSVP: Nathalie.Rougier@ucd.ie or IBIS@ucd.ie.
Click here for a preliminary programme
Conference Convenors:
Iseult Honohan, UCD School of Politics and International Relations
Jennifer Todd, UCD school of Politics and International Relations / IBIS
Nathalie Rougier, UCD School of Politics and International Relations