The conference curriculum will be composed of panel modules that will take place throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Each addresses a unique aspect of the peace process, drawing in academics, professionals, and community organizers to closely examine the intricacies of creating peaceful societies. From responses to psychological trauma to the construction of physical infrastructure for equitable settlements, these panels provide something for everyone. If you can’t make it to all of them, be sure to come out to a couple that interest you and explore some of the interdisciplinary components of peace.
Hidden Supports: The Infrastructure of Conflict
The built environment is a societal construction that affects everyday life to the extent that it can become invisible, unseen, and accepted. When built inadequately, it can serve to heighten tensions amongst groups and individuals, exacerbating inequalities and trends of marginalization. With half of the world’s population now living in cities, ensuring that the built environment is designed for peace is becoming increasingly relevant. This topic has heightened salience in deeply-divided cities such as Belfast, Sarajevo, or Jerusalem, but it has also gained academic attention as a contributor to structural violence in urban centres around the world. The great promise of this topic is the potential for tangible changes that could lead to increased stability in the world’s most densely populated settlements. Speakers will address the implications for infrastructure restriction on the development of inclusive communities, while also examining the positive influence of infrastructure development in post-conflict reconstruction.
