Why do some societies succeed in living together peacefully with their diversity, while others struggle?
In the attempt to understand the factors that help to build inclusive societies, two experiences stand out in particular. Despite vastly different histories and contexts, the cases of India and Canada highlight several elements of successful pluralist societies.
What factors have contributed to their success?
What are the continuing challenges they face?
What lessons can be learned from their experiences?
To explore the answers to these questions, we invite you to join us for a conversation with Rajeev Bhargava and Charles Taylor.
EVENT: Pluralism Forum – India and Canada: Pathways to Inclusive Citizenship
DATE: Thursday, October 30th, 2014
PANELLISTS:
Rajeev Bhargava, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, India
Charles Taylor, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Jane Jenson, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Moderator)
TIME: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST
VENUE: Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Register here
Panellists
Rajeev Bhargava, is a Professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in New Delhi. He has been a Professor at the Centre for Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and between 2001 and 2005 was Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Delhi.
He is a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Social Justice, ACU, Sydney and an Honorary Fellow at Balliol College, Oxford. He has been a Fellow at Harvard University, University of Bristol, the Institute of Advanced Studies in Jerusalem, the Institute of Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin, and the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He has also been a Distinguished Resident Scholar at the Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life, at Columbia University, and Asia Chair at Sciences Po, Paris. Bhargava has held visiting professorships at several universities.
Bhargava’s publications include Individualism in Social Science (1992), What is Political Theory and Why Do We Need It? (2010), and The Promise of India’s Secular Democracy (2010). His edited works are Secularism and Its Critics (1998) and Politics and Ethics of the Indian Constitution (2008). His work on secularism and methodological individualism is internationally acclaimed. He has contributed to the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Oxford Handbook of Political Theory.
Bhargava is on the advisory board of several national and international institutions, and was a consultant for the UNDP report on cultural liberty.
Bhargava received his BA in economics from the University of Delhi, and MPhil and DPhil from Oxford University.
Charles Taylor, McGill University is an internationally celebrated public philosopher, and a Professor Emeritus at McGill University. Taylor was the Chichele Professor of Social and Political Theory in the University of Oxford and Fellow of All Souls College. He later became professor of political science and philosophy at McGill University.
He has served as Board of Trustees Professor of Law and Philosophy at Northwestern University, and has received several academic awards including the 2007 Templeton Prize for progress towards research or discoveries about spiritual realities.
In 2007 Taylor, along with Gerard Bouchard, headed a one-year commission of inquiry into what would constitute “reasonable accommodation” for minority cultures in Quebec, Canada. In June 2008 he was awarded the Kyoto Prize in the arts and Philosophy category. Taylor is a Companion of the Order of Canada. He continues to write and lecture extensively on multiculturalism and secular society, with publications on the topic including Multiculturalism: Examining the Politics of Recognition, and Philosophy in an Age of Pluralism.
Taylor holds a BA in history from McGill University, a BA in philosophy, politics and economics, MA and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford.
Jane Jenson, was awarded the Tier I Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Governance (CCCG) in March 2001. She is a Professor
of Political Science in the Département de science politique at the Université de Montréal since 1993. Prior to joining this department she taught at Carleton University in Ottawa for more than 20 years.
Jane Jenson was named a Fellow of the Trudeau Foundation in 2005 and became a member of the Successful Societies Program of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) in 2004. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) in 1989.
Jane Jenson has also been invited to teach at a number of universities in North America and Europe. In 1988-89 she held the William Lyon Mackenzie King Chair in Canadian Studies at Harvard University. She has also been a Visiting Professor at the Universität Augsburg, the Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin), and the European University Institute, Florence. In winter 2005, she held the Chaire Bernheim en études sur la paix et la citoyenneté, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
Between June 1999 and June 2004, Jane Jenson was the Director of the Family Network, Canadian Policy Research Networks, Inc. She is currently the Directrice of Lien social et Politique, a social policy journal, based in Montreal and with an editorial committee also based in France. In 2002, Jane Jenson was named to the Conseil supérieur de la langue française, a newly created body, advising the Minister of Culture of the Government of Quebec.
She holds a PhD from the University of Rochester and a BA Honours from McGill University.
Via http://www.pluralism.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=106&Itemid=744&lang=en
About Global Centre for Pluralism / Le Centre mondial du pluralisme
The Global Centre for Pluralism – a new research and education centre dedicated to the study and practice of pluralism worldwide – is an initiative of His Highness the Aga Khan in partnership with the Government of Canada. Taking inspiration from Canada’s experience with pluralism, the Centre will develop and share knowledge and know-how about the benefits and practices of pluralism with other diverse societies. It is headquartered in Ottawa. For more information, please visit: www.pluralism.ca
Le Centre mondial du pluralisme, un nouveau centre de recherche et d’éducation voué à l’étude et à la pratique du pluralisme dans le monde, est une initiative de Son Altesse l’Aga Khan en partenariat avec le gouvernement du Canada. S’inspirant de l’expérience canadienne du pluralisme, le Centre développera et partagera des connaissances et un savoir-faire sur les avantages et les pratiques du pluralisme avec d’autres sociétés diverses. Son siège social est à Ottawa. Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez visiter : www.pluralism.ca
Pluralist societies are products of decision and public investment characterized by good governance, strong civic institutions, and sound public policy choices. Pluralist societies foster the equal participation of all citizens in the political, economic and socio-cultural life of the nation – enabling individuals and groups to express their cultural, linguistic and religious identities within a framework of shared citizenship. Through these means, the ethic and practices of pluralism can foster a more equitable and peaceful human development.
Launched in April 2012, the PLURALISM FORUM is a new series of moderated Q & A discussions with leading international authorities on the policies and practices that support these outcomes.
Pluralism Award
The Global Centre for Pluralism (GCP) is exploring the establishment of a Pluralism Award to recognize global achievement and innovation in managing diversity as a positive social asset. In 2013, an initial environment scan was undertaken with a view to developing terms of reference for review by the Board of Directors in 2014.
GCP is refurbishing Canada’s former War Museum building to use as its international headquarters. Vacant since 2005, this landmark heritage structure on Sussex Drive requires extensive rehabilitation. Once this work is completed, the building will gain new life as a global destination for dialogue about the foundations and benefits of pluralism.
All Related to Upcoming Events
Event – October 30 | The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat: Pluralism Forum – India and Canada: Pathways to Inclusive Citizenship
Event – October 27 | Ismaili Centre, Burnaby: An evening with Giller Prize winning author M.G. Vassanji
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