Today's Conflict Research: Tomorrow's Difference!

Introduction
The Conflict Research Society is the meeting place of choice for professionals working from all disciplines who share a desire to develop a better understanding of the processes, implications, management and transformation of conflict. This includes all arenas, whether international, social, organisational or personal.

The Society holds an Annual Conference which in 2006 is being held in Birmingham from Tuesday 5 September to Thursday 7 September. This event is intended as a forum for sharing the outputs of recently completed and ongoing research.

The .programme will be shaped to permit the maximum possible time for discussion, both within and outside the formal sessions.   One of the main purposes of the conference is to enable contributors to meet colleagues in their own and related fields.   The social programme will include a conference dinner and some free time to explore the locality..  

Main Call for Papers

We invite contributions to this event. The Society is particularly keen to obtain input from student researchers and may be able to offer (through the Sydney Bailey Fund) some modest financial support to enable their attendance.

The theme of this year's conference is:

This Conference seeks submissions of papers that outline varied approaches to today's conflict research needs. We shall be using the scholarship provided to generate ideas about how we are likely to achieve understanding of the dynamics of conflict and of the resolution of conflict situations.

However, other contributions that are relevant to the Society's aims are always welcome, regardless of whether they line up strongly with the year's stated theme. Papers may approach their subject from any discipline, and novel treatments are especially encouraged. Please complete and return the on-line Submission Form to submit your abstract for consideration by 30 June 2006. Acceptances will be notified by 14 July 2006. Full copies of accepted papers will be required by 1 August 2006 and on request will be considered for publication in the Journal of the Society.

The conference organisers are especially keen to hear from anyone who is prepared to act as a Session Organiser. This role involves securing two or three contributors around any chosen topic that might form a coherent part of the final conference programme. Offers of workshops or other participatory sessions are also welcomed.

Conference Venue, Accommodation and Travel
The conference will be held at the University of Aston in Birmingham. The campus is, conveniently located close to Birmingham city centre and with easy access by rail and motorway (see location map). For those coming from further afield, Birmingham International Airport is only 10 minutes by train from the city centre and has good connections both within Europe and beyond. Budget flights also operate into nearby Coventry.

To help prospective attendees to make early travel arrangements it may help to know that the conference will commence at midday on the 5 September and is presently planned to end at around 12.30pm on 7 September.

As there is on-site accommodation at the conference venue, this is included in the normal fee package (though a non-residentail option is available). The overall cost is at a similar level to last year's conference in Sheffield, and both budget and en-suite accommodation are available, though the latter is in limited supply and a first-come, first-served policy will apply. Please use and post back the Booking Form to reserve your place at the event.

Conference Enquiries

All conference administration is being handled by Marlbrook (UK) Ltd. We welcome enquiries from prospective contributors, attendees, exhibitors and sponsors. Please contact barbara@marlbrook.com