NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
Date: 27th February, 2014
“The Limits of Politics: Reflections on a Damaged Peace”
Professor John D Brewer to give the 2014 All Children Together-Dunleath Lecture
NICIE are pleased to announce that the 2014 All Children Together-Dunleath Lecture will be given by Professor John D Brewer on Wednesday 5th March at at 7.00pm (for 7.30pm start) in the Canada Room, Queen’s University Belfast.
The lecture, entitled ‘The Limits of Politics: Reflections on a Damaged Peace’ introduces a new conceptualisation of peace processes, which emphasises the importance of civil society over politics and social transformation over political transformation, which is then applied to Northern Ireland to reflect critically on the damaged aspects of peace in Northern Irish society.
This provides context to the argument that civil society needs to take back control of the peace process from politicians and address not only the political problems that beset it but primarily the moral vacuum within which peace is approached in Northern Ireland. It is only with this moral renewal of peace as a vocation that tolerance, compromise, and a shared society are achievable.
John Brewer is Professor of Post Conflict Studies in the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University. He runs the £1.26m Leverhulme Trust-funded Compromise after Conflict research programme in the Institute, which focuses on victims in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka and South Africa, and has a special interest in religious peacebuilding.
Professor Brewer is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Academician in the Academy of Social Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was President of the British Sociological Association and is now Honorary Life Vice President. He is a member of the United Nations Roster of Global Experts for his work on peace processes and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Social Science from Brunel University for services to social science and to the study of peace processes. He is author or co-author of 15 books and editor or co-editor of a further three. In 2013, he gave the Annual Academy of Social Science Lecture in London and in April gives the Third Annual Lord Patten Lecture on Social Renewal at Newcastle. In May, he is participating in one of the Westminster Faith Debates defending the motion that religion can play a positive role in peacebuilding.
The Dunleath Lectures were started in 1997 by All Children Together to promote public debate on the issues facing the integration of Northern Ireland school pupils.
The Dunleath Lecture is part of a programme of events to celebrate International Integrated Education Week 2014, which will take place from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th March. The theme will be ‘Building Bridges’.
A limited number of seats are still available. Those interested should contact NICIE on 028 9097 2910.
For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact Noreen Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at (028) 9097 2910, mobile 0787 8721327 or via e-mail to ncampbell@nicie.org.uk or via email to lmcivor@nicie.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
1. In Northern Ireland, about 93% of children attend schools which are either exclusively or predominantly Catholic or Protestant. The first integrated school, Lagan College, opened in 1981 with 28 pupils. There are currently 62 integrated schools in Northern Ireland, 20 second level colleges and 42 integrated primaries, altogether educating over 22,000 pupils.
2. A recent Millward Brown survey found that 83% of parents in Belfast believe that integrated education is a vital part of building a shared future in Northern Ireland. 72% of parents believe that funding for integrated education should be prioritised, with enough places available for those who wish to send their children to an integrated school.
3. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice a child-centred approach to teaching methods.
4. Established in 1987, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is a voluntary organisation that was set up to develop, support and promote integrated education in Northern Ireland. The underpinning principle of integrated education is that by bringing together Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths in a shared environment, they can learn to understand, respect and tolerate differences. For more information please visit www.nicie.org
