Political instability in various parts of the developing world are giving rise to mass migration of people mainly fleeing poverty, political conflict or religious persecution. We are seeing political discourse take a more abrasive tone, whether in developing nations or mature developed nations, where minorities are being targeted. Even religious leaders are grappling to remain true to their cause against the growing tide of divisive discourse by the fringe political parties centred on identity politics. Why has it been difficult for the leaders, whether elected or entrusted, to remain true to their cause and continue to serve the people? Why and where has it gone wrong? What are we to expect of our political and religious leaders in this new millennia where nation states are jostling to increase their hegemony across the ethnic and religious divide? What future lies ahead for minority groups who have called the land they had migrated to home or who are enjoying the safety of their host nation?
Speaker Bios
Professor Simon Robinson
Simon Robinson is Professor of Applied and Professional Ethics, and Director of Research Centre for Governance, Leadership and Global Responsibility, Leeds Beckett University. Simon developed his academic work in business ethics and pastoral and social theology at Oxford, Heriot Watt, Edinburgh and Leeds Universities. He now focuses on business and professional ethics, the nature and practice of responsibility, responsibility and pedagogy, governance, and leadership ethics across all sectors. Among his publications: Moral Meaning and Pastoral Counselling; (ed. with Chris Megone) Case Histories in Business Ethics; Living Wills; (with Kevin Kendrick and Alan Brown) Spirituality and Healthcare; Ministry Amongst Students; (ed. with Clement Katulushi) Values in Higher Education; (with Ross Dixon, Chris Preece and Kris Moodley) Engineering, Business and Professional Ethics.
Emeritus Professor Gary Bouma
Professor Bouma is the UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Interreligious Relations – Asia Pacific, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Monash University, Australian node of the Religion and Diversity Project, University of Ottawa, Acting Director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre, and Associate Priest in the Anglican Parish of St John’s East Malvern. He is President of the Australian Association for the Study of Religions. His research in the sociology of religion examines the management of religious diversity in plural multicultural societies, postmodernity as a context for doing theology, religion and terror, religion and public policy. He is the author or co-author of over 25 books.He was invested as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to Sociology, to interreligious relations and to the Anglican Church of Australia in 2013.
Professor Michele Grossman
Michele Grossman is Professor and Research Chair in Diversity and Community Resilience at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, the incoming Director of the Collaborative Centre of Excellence for Resilient Communities and Inclusive Societies (CERCIS), and Convenor of the AVERT (Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalisation to Terrorism) Research Network. Professor Grossman’s research focuses on community perspectives on and engagement with the drivers of and responses to violent extremism.
