International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations 43rd annual international conference, June 12-15, 2013 ASILOMAR Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California

Call for Papers: How Will Rapid Global Changes Transform Civilizations?

THEME 1: Brave New World: The Paradigm for the Rest of the 21st Century It is clear that we are on the cusp of enormous changes in technology, communications, work, religion, the nation state, and demographics. What effect will these changes have on human life and how can human ingenuity meet these challenges? This important topic will provide opportunities for our best thinkers to present papers addressing changes to human institutions:: Demographics, Work, the Nation State, Technological Breakthroughs.

THEME 2: Strangers in a Strange World: Diasporas and Their Consequences. Human beings are a mobile and now global species. More people have moved from their homes in the 20th century than ever before. What happens to these migrants in their new homes? Consider the Chinese in southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands vs. the US; Indians in Fiji and South Africa vs. the west; Jews in Christendom, Islam, and the New World; Africans in the New World, US and Brazil; Muslims in Thailand, India, Africa, Europe, and the New World; and China and Russia in Siberia.

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Anything related to civilizational theorists, rise and decline, confrontations with modernity, and other relevant civilizational issues.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION: Please send 500 word abstracts as an MSWORD attachment with your name and e-mail address on the attachment by April 30 to: Dr. Laina Farhat-Holzman, Lfarhat102@aol.com.