SYMPOSIUM TO ADDRESS ISSUES RAISED BY GLOBALIZATION

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Scholars who are known internationally for their groundbreaking research into questions raised by globalization will gather at Bryn Mawr for "Truth and Power: Local and Global," an all-day symposium that begins at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, March 19, in the Ely Room at Wyndham. Sponsored by the College's Center for International Studies, the symposium will bring together speakers from a variety of disciplines and countries in three sessions, each with an overarching theme. The event is free and open to the public; no registration is necessary.

"Globalization is evident in the greatly increased flows of technology, trade, information, markets, capital, labor and people themselves across borders and throughout the world," says Bryn Mawr Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy Christine Koggel, a presenter and one of the organizers of the conference. "The ability to cross borders instantaneously through technological advances such as the Internet has made it possible to learn about people, policies, issues, practices and beliefs in virtually all parts of the world and, too often, to make quick judgments about differences. Globalization has increased awareness of the ways in which policies and practices with respect to issues such as the environment, the workplace, health, poverty, and education in one area can have devastating effects not only on the livelihood of people in other areas, but the world as a whole.

"The demand for theory and for policy that addresses these and other issues has elevated the language of justice, equality, democracy and human rights from its roots in liberal theory to the global scene, where international bodies provide accounts of what these concepts mean and then measure and monitor violations. These and many other features of globalization have called for a rethinking of some of the concepts and theories central to disciplines such as philosophy, politics, law, development and education," Koggel says.

"Truth and Power: Local and Global" will explore basic questions about the connection between truth and power in a context of globalization. Are concepts such as equality, justice, democracy and human rights so rooted in Western liberal theory that they have limited or no applicability in other parts of the world or in the global context? Do differences in power between countries that are rich and poor, developed and developing have on impact on theory itself and what we can claim to know? What sorts of theory or theorizing can succeed in implementing effective policies for alleviating inequalities and injustices of various kinds and in contexts very different from our own? What sorts of practices, alliances and partnerships are best suited for dealing with power imbalances in our global context?

Scholars of philosophy, political science, law, sociology and education are included on the program. Some of the speakers are theorists known internationally for their research in development ethics and their work with renowned figures like Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. Each session will be chaired by a member of Bryn Mawr's faculty and will include a question-and-answer component.

A morning session titled "Kinds of Inequalities" will feature Ingrid Robeyns, at the University of Amsterdam and visiting scholar in the philosophy department at Columbia University; philosopher Kok-Chor Tan of the University of Pennsylvania; and Bryn Mawr's Christine Koggel.

After lunch, a session titled "Models of Democracry" will offer presentations by philosopher John Drydyk of Carleton University, David Crocker of the University of Maryland 's Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, and Bryn Mawr Professor of Political Science Michael Allen.

The final session, titled "Policies: Children, Education and Work," will include talks by Novella Keith, of Temple University's education faculty; and Roland Pierik of the faculty of law at Tilburg University, the Netherlands, and visiting scholar in the Columbia University Department of Philosophy.

Click here to see the full program.

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