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UNESCO religious chair

A UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Inter-religious Relations for the Asia Pacific region is being established within the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash.

School head Professor Gary Bouma (pictured), who won this chair for Monash, will take up the position in November. He said the chair would facilitate the academic study of intercultural and inter-religious relations in the Asia Pacific region with a view to influencing social policy.

"The management of religious diversity in the region has been one of the central issues in post-World War Two diplomacy, state building and conflict resolution," Professor Bouma said. "While many thought the rise of secular societies would bring an end to religiously focused, defined or motivated conflict, the direct opposite has been the case.

"The creative and positive management of religious diversity is even more of an issue today than it was in the 20th century. And while the Asia Pacific region provides many models of managing intercultural and inter-religious relations peacefully and productively, there remain instances where this is not the case."

Professor Bouma said the objectives of the UNESCO chair were to:

• conduct and collect scholarly research on the management of intercultural and religious diversity and the role of religion and religious figures in conflicts in the Asia Pacific region;
• publish research findings to promote scholarly understanding of intercultural and inter-religious relations and shape government policy on managing religious diversity and conflict associated with religion; and
• maintain an active and current database on the role of religion and religious figures in promoting conflict and peace in the region.