'Mobilizing religion: networks and mobility": Crossroads Asia conference
The second major conference "Mobilizing Religion: Networks and Mobility“ of the Competence Network Crossroads Asia will take place at the Institute of Oriental and Asian Studies in Bonn, July 18-19, 2013. Crossroads Asia is an association of seven German research institutes conducting research on the concepts of mobility and of conflict, migration and development – in particular on the relevance of these concepts in defining ‘area’. The geographical focus of Crossroads Asia’s research lies on the area extending from eastern Iran to western China and from the Aral Sea to northern India.
International experts
At the upcoming conference, international experts from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, the USA and Kyrgyzstan will focus on the role different religious belief systems play in processes related to traditions, migration networks or the legitimation of migration, as well as religious aspects in political processes, social institutions and the construction of identities.
Multiple roles for religion
Religion is known to be an important identity marker for social orders and potential power relations. It often contributes to defining “the self”, or “the foreign”, “the other”. On the one hand, religion establishes certain social and cultural spheres and their boundaries legitimize social constructs. On the other hand, it constitutes a connecting element across geographical, ethnic, social or political boundaries. Religious dogmas and norms offer individual as well as collective orientations. Also, codes of conduct, behavioral practices and interdependencies between social and religious processes have to be considered.
Focus of conference
In the conference, special emphasis will lay on religion as a mobilizing factor in conflicts, religious elements as symbolic capital in exchange processes in networks/figurations, Islamic institutions/networks as part of trans-local figurations, and religious aspects in the cognitive concepts of “migration”, “belonging” and “home”.
Conference participation and registration
Participation in the conference is free of charge and includes materials and coffee breaks. Registration is obligatory.
You can register with Mr. Fabian Falter via s5fafalt(at)uni-bonn.de and visit the project's Website for updates.
Contact:
Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge
Crossroads Asia Coordination Office
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Department of Political and Cultural Change
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Walter-Flex-Straße 3
53113 Bonn
+49 (0)228 731722
Program: See downloads below (poster and flyer).