#  Call for Abstracts: Challenging the Barriers to Civil Discourse Conference 

 





September 10, 2024

 

 

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 Harvard University’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics - in partnership with FAS's Civil Discourse Initiative - is pleased to announce a call for abstracts for the upcoming conference, "Challenging the Barriers to Civil Discourse." The conference, to be held over two days at Harvard University, aims to address the critical issue of why democracies face difficulties in maintaining norms of civil discourse. We invite submissions from diverse fields, including academia, think tanks, business, policymaking, philanthropy, and civil society. The conference is designed to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue, aiming to explore the underlying causes of these challenges and collaboratively identify relevant areas of research to promote constructive dialogue and propose solutions for democratic societies.

 **Objectives:**

1. Identify and Analyze Barriers: To understand the key factors contributing to the difficulty of maintaining civil discourse norms in democracies.
2. Promote Cross-Sector Collaboration: To encourage dialogue and partnerships between different sectors to address these barriers.
3. Develop Practical Solutions: To formulate actionable strategies to enhance civil discourse in various societal contexts.

 **Application Guidelines**:

 **Eligibility**:

 We invite submissions from diverse fields, including academia, think tanks, business, policymaking, philanthropy, and civil society. Early career researchers and graduate students are particularly encouraged to apply.

 **Submission Guidelines**:

 Applicants are asked to submit abstracts that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

- Theoretical and empirical studies on the barriers to civil discourse in democracies.
- Case studies highlighting successful initiatives that have improved civil discourse.
- Analyses of the role of media, technology, and social networks in shaping public discourse.
- Exploration of educational approaches to fostering civil discourse.
- Strategies for engaging diverse communities in constructive dialogue.
- Policy recommendations for enhancing civil discourse at local, national, and international levels.
- Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and addressing the challenges to civil discourse.

 **Key Dates:**

- Abstract Submission Deadline: Oct 15, 2024
- Notification of Acceptance: Nov 22, 2024
- Conference Dates: February 4-5, 2025

##  [Submit an abstract here.](https://apply.ethics.harvard.edu/prog/civil_discourse_conference/)