For more information on this year's Workshops, click here.
South Asians are currently exercising unprecedented influence in the United States, and the American political landscape is adjusting to the rise of South Asian political power. South Asia is simultaneously gaining global prominence, facing new economic and security challenges that are moving its citizens to take a larger role in building the region's future. What are the factors behind this rise in the US? How will the people of South Asia balance their global responsibilities and local interests? This track will explore growing South Asian civic engagement and contemporary South Asian political issues.
Connect:
The interconnected nature of the world has pushed individuals to develop a new paradigm for confronting global problems. Issues such as climate change and national security are no longer defined by political borders, emphasizing that the stake of the world depends on global cooperation. This track will explore the different ways in which individuals and nations have used this new sense of mutual responsibility to develop innovative and sometimes daring methods to address global issues. Workshops will explore topics spanning corporate responsibility, environmental issues and sustainable development, among others.
Exchange:
More than ever before, innovations pioneered in South Asia are being emulated in the United States, and vice versa. Microfinance, an idea cultivated in South Asia, is now being used to combat poverty in the streets of New York City -- and this is just the tip of the iceberg. What other ideas are being exchanged? Do these transfers build mutual respect and ties between South Asia and the United States? What about exchanges within South Asia? This track will investigate these questions and more in areas ranging from economics to health care.
Fusion:
The exposure of South Asian culture to others around the world has resulted in incredible outpourings of creative expression, spanning music, food, art, film and literature. But does all this fusion constitute mere flashy cultural spectacle, or the foundation for increased global understanding? Such intermixing has raised questions of whether globalization is invigorating or corrupting traditional culture and values in the United States and South Asia. This track will facilitate participants' efforts to develop an appreciation of how the arts can be used as a foundation for global collaboration or exploitation.
Challenge:
Cultural stereotypes and misunderstandings about South Asians have led many to classify South Asians as model minorities and regard the social justice issues confronting them as "ethnic" concerns. Such characterizations paint an unrepresentative view of the vibrant South Asian community in America and ignore the reality that critical issues such as women's literacy, labor laws and legal defense of detainees are linked to larger global struggles. This track aims to challenge such misconceptions by examining the successes of South Asians in nontraditional fields as well as the efforts of everyday citizens and professionals face in combating injustices around the world.
