Fifth Congress of the International Society for Cultural Research and
Activity Theory (ISCRAT)
http://niles.psy.vu.nl/iscrat2002/
Dealing with Diversity
Tools and resources for human development in social practices
Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit
18 – 22 June, 2002
First announcement
Presentation of the Fifth Congress of ISCRAT
In our times processes of globalisation and particularisation play an
important role, not only in world politics but also in our everyday lives.
We are confronted with a proliferation of meanings, tools, information and
identities, with an ever-increasing diversity of cultural points of view,
values, and activities. We need to understand these processes and their
consequences for the development of human beings and their cultures. For
maintaining social cohesion and solidarity, for promoting peace and
cultivating humanity, we need to find new ways of constructing identities
and communities.
Cultural-historical activity theory is uniquely situated to tackle such
problems. It addresses the phenomenon of cultural development of the human
being as a mediational process that takes place within and by participation
in sociocultural activities. Cultural diversity and its consequences is one
of the major problems in sociocultural theory, nonetheless we have only
begun to understand its meaning. Diversity, in the widest sense of the word,
will therefore be the main focus for the fifth ISCRAT congress in Amsterdam.
The topic was already discussed in the previous congress in Aarhus by such
scholars as Jerome Bruner, Vera John-Steiner and Martha Nussbaum. At the
fifth congress, we intend to bring together scholars and students from
different disciplines and cultural backgrounds to examine how
cultural-historical activity theory can contribute to human development in a
diversifying world.
Cultural-historical activity theory, based on the legacy of Vygotsky, Luria
and Leontiev, has developed into an important paradigm in the social
sciences. The lively discussions on topics like ontogenesis, activity,
meaning, participation, and identity, have contributed to the evolution of
such fields as psychology, education, anthropology, linguistics, philosophy,
semiotics, communication, human-machine interaction, and biology. In these
discussions it was also made clear that disciplinary boundaries have to be
transcended. Cooperation between scholars in interdisciplinary research is
fruitful and, indeed, necessary. ISCRAT aims at contributing to these
exchanges by organising congresses every four years. The Congress in
Amsterdam will be the fifth in a series of congresses organised by the
International Society for Cultural Research and Activity Theory. The
previous ISCRAT congresses were organised in 1986 (Berlin), 1990 (Lahti),
1995 (Moscow), and 1998 (Aarhus). See also on www.iscrat.org for more
detailed information. There is a substantial link with the conferences
convened by the Society for Sociocultural Studies (Madrid, 1992; Geneva,
1996; São Paulo, 2000).
On behalf of the International Board of ISCRAT, the organising committee in
the Netherlands invites all people interested in the ideas of socio-cultural
activity theory to attend the congress in Amsterdam.
For more info about submitting proposal and the conference, please visit,
http://niles.psy.vu.nl/iscrat2002/
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From Eugene (not a very serious message :-)
Many people asked me what is a difference between the ISCRAT and the Society
for Sociocultural Studies. Reading the message above it seems to me I found
the answer. The ISCRAT likes to meet in Nordic countries like Germany,
Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia (the Northern part of it), while the
Society for Sociocultural Studies like to meet in Latin-speaking Southern
countries like Spain, Switzerland (French-speaking Geneva), and Brazil. I
remember that the SSS celebrated 100 years since Vygotsky's b-day in Geneva!
Following this geolinguastic tradition we should expect that the ISCRAT will
celebrate Paulo Friere's b-day in Southern Germany or in Bern.
I think to develop a map dividing countries, states, and cities (like in
case of Switzerland) between possible places for ISCRAT and SSS conferences.
Louisiana can definitely host the Society for Sociocultural Studies in 2308,
while Minnesota can be a good home for ISCRAT in 2310. Montreal and
Casablanca are good cities for hosting the SSS conference in 2504 while
Pretoria can be a good choice for ISCRAT meeting in 2506. Of course, there
are many countries that difficult to decide one way or another and can be
free for grab by both ISCRAT and SSS such countries as Turkey, Japan, Chine,
Egypt, India, Eritrea, and even England. I'd appreciate your ideas to help
me and ISCRAT/SSS leaders to decide how these countries should be divided
between the ISCRAT and SSS.
Truly yours,
Eugene
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