COHDA 2015 - Third Conference on Human Development in Asia

In an increasingly globalized Asia, the economic, industrial and political developments among the nations that are located within the continent have brought about dramatic social change. Within a span of just over a century, Asia has been a major site of colonialism and decolonization, global warfare, political upheaval and regime change, the rise of new nations, ongoing ethnic and religious conflict, economic boom and recession, population explosion, cultural diasporas, viral epidemics, technological advancement, and severe environmental pollution and disasters.
While commentators and analysts have recognized the vast changes that have shaped the Asian continent, it is also crucial to understand the continuities that are maintained even in the face of such impetus for change. Apart from change, what constants still resist change? In addition, what factors contribute to such ongoing resilience? Although it may be argued that the forces of globalization and development have set in motion a number of positive changes in the ways we live our lives, this has also been counterbalanced by the continuities of inequality and suffering of many others. The tide of change often exists in a state of tension with the forces of continuity. Hence, in order for us to comprehend the forces of change, we must also engage other opposing forces.
At the same time, attempts to mediate the tension between change and continuity have given rise to growing diversities. Driven partly by the forces of migration within a global economic order often guided by transnational markets of production or consumption, new political and social-cultural fragmentations and intersections within nation-states in Asia have emerged. In the face of such developments, the implications of and challenges to efforts at sustainability are numerous. While it is increasing recognized that sustainability entails dimensions far beyond the ecological sphere, the next step is to examine and understand the impact of change and continuity and the resultant diversities that are contained within.
COHDA 2015 invites scholarly interactions among academics, researchers, doctoral students, and representatives from industry, entrepreneurs, and non-profit and non-governmental organization professionals. Authors are welcome to submit from a range of topics, perspectives, and disciplines. The range of research submissions may include conceptual, empirical, experimental, and case studies.
The conference theme of Change, Continuity and Diversity: Perspectives on Sustainability for Asia seeks to explore such issues and their links to the notion of sustainability through the combined and holistic lenses of an interdisciplinary approach.
We invite proposals of 250 words by Monday, March 2, 2015. We welcome submissions through our online system on any of the following areas:
Agriculture
Business
Children and Youth
Culture
Disability Rights
Education
Engineering
Environment
Gender Equality
Human Rights
Infectious Diseases
Migration and Identity
Peace and Conflict
Population and Aging
Psychology
Public Policy
Religion
Social and Economic Mobility
Sustainable Human Development
Technology
Violence, Abuse and Trauma
Other Area (please specify)