Our ability to communicate successfully affects so many aspects of our lives. Difficulties, indeed failures, or breakdowns in communication can play a major role in hostility, conflict and war. Communication problems can thwart the successful realisation of desirable outcomes lead to personal frustration and systemic entropy.
The framework of human communication raises broad contextual issues that concern relationship, learning and knowledge exchange, and the fundamental nature of humanity. How can we negotiate understanding where those involved have quite different modes of communication, language, specialisations and world views? How can conflict be avoided when disagreement is based upon history, culture, and perception? How might we begin to consider and even appreciate views that are strikingly divergent from our own, and how does communication effectively bridge such difficult conceptual chasms? How are good decisions made and tasks accomplished in an environment where communication is so difficult?
Conflict, the outcome of communication difficulties and entrenched positions, as it activates deeply held values and emotions also challenges individuals, groups and entire nations to embrace change. In this context how communication and conflict are perceived and negotiated will influence how opportunities to establish useful reciprocity are used. In the cut and thrust of everyday life being able to recognise, track, and respond to different levels of communication can be challenging. It may require an appreciation of knowledge and the realities of differences that are alien to our own. Communication in conflict may often force its participants into uncharted territory and the journey to find a common ground upon which to stand is necessarily complicated by competing human agendas.
This inter- and multi-disciplinary conference project seeks to explore these and other topics and create dialogue about communication and conflict. We seek submissions from a range of disciplines including communication studies, journalism, public affairs, public relations, philosophy, psychology, literature, management, business studies, information technology, science, the visual and creative arts, music, politics and also actively encourage practitioners and non-academics with an interest in the topic to participate.
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/probing-the-boundaries/hostility-and-violence/communication-and-conflict/call-for-papers/