The 4th CAUX-Initiatives of Change conference on ‘Learning to live in a multicultural world’ will take place from 1 - 6 July 2012 in Caux. This year’s programme builds on the outcomes of the 2011 conference on Diaspora and peacemaking. It aims to equip those who wish to embrace a multicultural vision of Europe. An outline of the programme is now available.

>> Download the outline

An annual conference that aims to gather and equip those who wish to embrace a multicultural vision of Europe.

Introduction

Cultural and religious diversity are becoming an increasingly important issue in today’s societies. The multicultural society is a social fact and here to stay.

At the same time, it has also become highly controversial in the public and in political debates. While there are various approaches to adapting to a multicultural society, they all seem to share one presumption: growing cultural diversity is a problem and a source of conflict and social unrest. Migration is often claimed to be the root cause of the problem. Needless to say, this view leaves us ill-equipped to deal with this issue constructively.

What is needed is a general shift towards recognizing the potential of diversity for our societies. This does not mean ignoring existing problems or challenges, but changing the way we approach them.

Civil society has an important role to play in facilitating this change of attitude for several reasons. Firstly, there are many positive examples in civil society of how multiculturalism can work for the benefit of all. Secondly, civil society can act as an intermediary between the “people” and “politics”, between individuals, communities and states. Furthermore, an active civil society allows socio-political participation for those who are otherwise excluded from decision-making processes due to their lacking formal political rights.

Diaspora communities often feel that they do not have equal opportunities in terms of political, social and economic participation, and their capacities and skills are not used sufficiently. Therefore, they need to be given the opportunity to take responsibility. The host society, on the other hand, needs to review its role in supporting such processes. If we want to create truly inclusive multicultural environments and be true to the ideal of democratic societies, all stakeholders – regardless of their social or political status – need to be involved in shaping a common future.  

Overview

The 2012 conference will be the fourth annual conference on ‘Learning to live in a multicultural world’. The conferences build on the experience of Initiatives of Change (IofC) in the fields of relationship transformation and trust-building and its holistic approach to change based on three elements:

• Space for reflection - to unlock potential for personal change
• Dialogue in diversity - to build trust for relational change
• Empowerment for action - to enable partnerships for global change

This year’s programme builds on the outcomes and results generated during the 2011 conference on ‘Diaspora and peacemaking in Europe’. During that conference, participants developed a shared vision of inclusive, intercultural societies and identified civil society’s need for:

• Rethinking individual attitudes and motivations
• Challenging and transforming power imbalances
• Exploring the transformative role of education and mutual learning
• Strengthening and expanding relationships across divides

This year's conference will focus on initiatives that diaspora and host society members in different parts of Europe can take – separately and together – to tap civil society's potential. It will explore how to respond to the needs identified, and what conditions still have to be put in place by and for the various actors to actively contribute to their societies.

Aim

Pursuing the goal of strengthening the capacities of civil society in shaping socio-political realities and uniting forces, the conference will particularly focus on exchanges of best practice. Moreover, it will provide a platform to build relationships and to generate ideas, initiatives and actions through which active members of the different communities in Europe constructively approach the challenge of living in multicultural, diverse societies. It is hoped that this will inspire participant to find new ways of recognizing and tapping the potential of multicultural societies.

Through plenary sessions, case studies, and facilitated discussions, the conference will offer opportunities for reflection on the individual’s contribution in their own personal, professional and communal environments. It will also provide hands-on training modules for participants to acquire practical tools and valuable skills to build their capacities as empowered civil society actors.

Programme

1 July 2012: Opening and introduction

The opening plenary will set the scene for the conference and describe its rationale, referring back to what has been learnt through previous conferences in the series. The theme of the 'new We' will be picked up again and taken as a starting point to discuss ways how an active and committed civil society can tap their full potential and turn their visions of an inclusive, intercultural Europe into reality.

2 July 2012: The 'new We' needs a 'new me'

For inclusive environments and the 'new We' to come true, it is necessary for everyone to take an honest look at their personal attitudes and motivations. What are effective ways of diminishing prejudices, stereotypes and discriminatory behaviours? And, there are other important obstacles, less obvious and rarely openly addressed: How do personal (and unspoken) fears affect social relations? How does politeness inhibit honest encounters and dialogue, which are sometimes reached through disagreement? Is there a tolerance that can have negative impacts? This day will provide time and space to explore reasons and ways for an honest reflection of our attitudes and behaviours. A 'new me' is an indispensable prerequisite to a 'new we', to creating environments built on respect and shared core values.

3 July 2012: Power imbalances

Members of diaspora communities very often act as peacemakers and drivers of social inclusion within their communities and, at the same time, assume responsibilities as active members of wider society. Though their commitment is strong, they often lack possibilities for participation, at political, social and economic levels. How can the underlying power imbalances within European societies be identified and addressed? How does this lack of opportunity reinforce existing power imbalances? While structural power imbalances are a crucial issue, the question of power relations and inequality also needs to be addressed on a community and/or civil society level: How to reconcile the protection of minorities while at the same time respecting cultural differences? How to effectively collaborate in diverse groups/teams/networks and use synergies instead of competing for scarce resources or the power of definition? During this day, these issues will be discussed and examples of reducing power imbalances will be presented.

4 July 2012: Education and mutual learning

Living in a multicultural world is a challenge to all stakeholders. Therefore, the question of education and more informal ways of learning immediately arises. What implications does living in a multicultural society have for our formal education systems? To what extent do they equip us to for live in multicultural environments? What other forms of education, such as mentoring, would be effective? A shift towards acknowledging the potential of cultural diversity also involves an effort to find out what we can learn and gain from each other. What role could civil society actors play in promoting and fostering such processes? Education experts and civil society representatives will investigate civil society's contribution to learning processes as well as the benefits for them.

5 July 2012: Closing ranks for the 'new We'

The current view of many politicians and experts that multiculturalism has failed is partly due to the fact that social fragmentation, ‘ghettoization’ and alienation has, to some extent, become real in many societies. While this especially concerns those societies which applied a ‘communitarian’ approach to multiculturalism, it marks a general development in most European countries. It shows the need to reinforce social cohesion which implies feeling part of society as a whole. Imagining and working towards a 'new We' cannot be done alone or by separate groups, but only as a collaborative exercise. For this reason, building lasting relationships at various levels in the civil society becomes crucial: within diaspora communities, between diaspora communities, as well as between host society and diaspora communities. This day will ask the question of how such relationships can be built – going beyond various, often conflict-laden divides – and explore their importance and benefits for creating inclusive intercultural societies. It will also try to identify ways and present successful examples of creating synergies between the various actors and networks.

6 July 2012: Conclusion and follow-up

The final plenary will summarize what has been discussed and learnt during the panels, training modules, discussion groups and personal encounters. After a short presentation of different outcomes, we will define next steps that aim at consolidating a civil society platform where initiatives – on an individual or wider level – could be launched, networks maintained and expanded and best practice shared. We will also discuss possibilities for a conference follow-up in different European countries during the coming year. Finally, we will celebrate four intensive conference days that were carried and enabled by active civil society members who tap the potential of diverse, intercultural environments.

Platform to acquire skills and build capacities

Training modules on various topics will allow participants to acquire practical tools and skills to expand their capacities to contribute to their communities as civil society actors. Best-practice examples will show what is already in place to deal with the issues that are at the heart of the conference. Conference participants register for one module which they will attend during the entire conference. This allows for a consistent learning experience with a clear focus over the five conference days.

The Hub: The heart of the conference

In an effort to create a pivotal point and a space that connects the different elements of the conference, the conference HUB was launched in 2011. More than anything else, the HUB is a place where participants can develop a sense of ownership for the conference. It is the place where ideas can be harvested, new initiatives and projects started or further developed, support and consultancy provided, networks created or expanded, and discussions with speakers and other participants continued. The HUB enables and visualizes interactive cooperation, sharing, exchange and mutual enrichment and empowerment.

Community Discussion Groups: A place for personal reflection and growth

A special characteristic of the Caux conferences is the communal life. Participants are invited to join a Community Discussion Group which also participates in the practical tasks of the house. On the one hand, these groups provide a safe space for personal reflection and discussion with each other and thus learn from this kind of interaction. On the other hand, they provide an ideal testing ground for newly acquired skills and insights as the participants assume responsibility for some light house chores together.

Peace Fair

After two successful years of organizing the Peace Fair, this year's conference will have one evening, where organizations, initiatives relating to diasporas, peacemaking or intercultural dialogue can present their work. For further information and application please contact Evi Lichtblau, conference coordinator

Who should attend?

• Members of diaspora communities who wish to make an impact, be it in their community or their host society.
• Experts, practitioners and activists in the field of fundamental rights, political or social participation, education or relationship-building whose professional work will be enhanced through case studies, tools and the opportunity to reflect.
• Teachers and educators who are working in a multicultural environment.
• Organizations at national, regional and local levels such as government agencies, cultural institutions, community workers, as well as NGOs and associations which focus on fundamental rights, political or social participation, education or relationship-building.
• Students and young adults who wish to take responsibility for better intercultural understanding.
• People who want to start their own participatory initiatives and are aware of the challenges and opportunities of a multicultural society.

Intended outcomes

• Participants, from all parts of Europe and beyond, equipped with new perspectives and skills to enhance their work for a truly inclusive multicultural society.
• Diaspora communities given the opportunity to connect and learn from each other’s experiences and best practice.
• Participants offered an environment in which to reflect on the focus of their lives and work, and the needs for change in their own lives.
• Fields of action defined which require the commitment of all and collective responses.
• Participants equipped with skills to start new projects, or make existing projects more effective, e.g. by creating synergies.
• Providing a platform for sharing experiences and expertise and for encouraging cooperation between Initiatives of Change and other organizations.
• An environment created for know-how exchange with experts, policymakers, and activists attending the 2012 Caux Forum for Human Security.

For more information, please contact Evi Lichtblau, conference coordinator

>> Download the outline