Project Director: Raphaël Liogier
In most parts of the world today, we are observing increased polarization along traditional divides (religious, ethnic, cultural or religious identity). These cleavages are exacerbated by online global micro-communities (from manga enthusiasts to LGBTQ activists to neo-Salafists) which create new forms of de-territorialized divides. At the same time, the global challenges the world faces today (environmental degradation, pandemics, financial instability and the threat of terrorist violence) demand global cooperation. How can we overcome our current state of splintered identities to build a new sense of global solidarity? In order to address these challenges, we need to think about identity in a different way. The notion of “global identities”, which will be discussed at this conference, offers a new paradigm: it reflects the multiple layers of interlocking identities – territorial (national identity), inter-territorial (diasporas and migration) and de-territorialized identities. By acknowledging these multiple layers of belonging, we have the opportunity to discover new, deeper connections between human beings and create a renewed sense of common purpose.
