The 2020 conference, “Conflict & Justice in an Era of Polarization,” brings together two associations that provide leadership in the work for peace, justice, and conflict resolution in the world. The Peace & Justice Studies Association (PJSA) and The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) are pleased to announce our first jointly sponsored annual conference. The PJSA and the ACR are partnering to promote a dynamic exchange of ideas among attendees and between our organizations.
We want to challenge the deeply divisive nature of 2020, provide thoughtful deliberations and potential solutions. The reality is that today there are deep rifts in relationships, families, communities, and between people and nations in the world. Our conference will investigate ways to mitigate this stifling polarization by interrogating causes. How can we resolve conflicts and bring about justice in this era of polarization?
This year’s conference will be held at the Omni Hotel and Resort in Orlando, Florida, from Wednesday, September 23, to Saturday, September 26, 2020.
We invite 1) scholars, academics, and students; 2) researchers and educators; 3) practitioners including attorneys, mediators, arbitrators, negotiators, and ombudspersons; and 4) local, national, and global activists to join us in conversations about conflict and justice.
Submissions will be accepted in different formats:
- from one or more individuals presenting a paper or leading a workshop,
- groups presenting a panel,
- individuals or groups facilitating roundtable discussions, and
- individuals or groups providing skill-building workshops.
Through individual and group presentations and shorter TED-style keynotes and plenaries, sessions will explore ways to resolve conflicts, reach justice, and alleviate polarization.
The following are some of the topics we would like to include in the conference program:
- Media engagement and polarization
- Mediation and other types of conflict resolution
- Anti-racism/challenging white supremacy training, advocacy, and techniques
- Restorative justice and methods for healing.
- National security, war, inter-group disputes, and armed conflict
- Environmental and public policy conflict resolution
- Community policing, accountability, and social movements to end violence
- Conflict resolution education and training
- Gun Sense legislation
- Prevention and early resolution of workplace conflict
- Sovereignty and Indigenous land conflicts
- Growing mediation inside and outside of the court
The conference builds in multiple opportunities to engage, beginning with interactive pre-conference options, and the main conference with panels, plenaries, workshops, discussion sessions, and includes each organization’s annual Awards Ceremony and a Silent Auction. Our goal is to create a stimulating environment where scholars, activists, educators, practitioners, artists, and students can build community and explore interconnections.
Proposal Submission Deadline: April 6, 2020
Proposal Responses: Early May 2020
Early Bird Registration: May 1-July 31, 2020
Use this link to access the proposal form.
You can reach the conference organizers at: PJSAACR2020@gmail.com
David J. Smith Consulting, LLC 