REIMAGINING THE LANDSCAPE OF IDENTITY: INTERCULTURAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

The Department of Language, Linguistics and Philosophy at The University of the West Indies

(UWI), Mona—in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy (Faculty of Catholic Theology) at Paris Lodron University Salzburg (PLUS)—is pleased to announce a collaborative conference to be held at The UWI Mona Campus.

REIMAGINING THE LANDSCAPE OF IDENTITY: INTERCULTURAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

February 3–5, 2026 | Kingston, Jamaica

Identity and identity formation have long been central to cultural, sociological, and philosophical debates. While traditional discussions have often assumed identity to be universal and monolithic, communities shaped by colonialism, imperialism, and forced migration reveal identity as a contested and fluid construct. Amartya Sen’s critique of the “solitarist illusion” - the reduction of individuals to a singular affiliation, such as religion or ethnicity – underscores how such reductive thinking can fuel conflict and violence. Identities are not fixed or inherent but are constructed within specific social, political, and historical contexts, often linked to power dynamics and representation. This raises critical questions: What is the role of identity in a plural world, and how does it influence our understanding of ourselves as individuals and as part of a broader human community?

The controversy surrounding Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” illustrates these tensions. Debates about whether only specific identities can interpret cultural works reveal a growing “identity culture”, which risks reducing complex issues to rigid categories. Critics caution that this approach can obscure broader social challenges such as inequality and exclusion. These debates also highlight the distinction between identity (a personal, internal sense of self) and identification (the external markers used to categorise individuals), which often drives exclusion or violence. Superficial identification frequently overrides the plural, dynamic nature of identity, creating existential burdens and fuelling division.

This conference seeks to rethink identity beyond imposed boundaries, advocating for an intercultural and interdisciplinary approach as a vital lens for navigating these complexities. Intercultural philosophy, as a global and pluralistic framework, challenges monolithic understandings of identity and embraces diverse perspectives across disciplines. It encourages participants to explore identity as dynamic, relational, and contextually situated, recognising its evolving role in shaping human experience.

Through dialogue that integrates insights from fields such as philosophy, historical science, cultural studies, theology, and psychology, participants are invited to critically reimagine identity. By fostering inclusive and collaborative conversations, the conference aims to advance our understanding of identity’s relevance in building more inclusive, peaceful, and interconnected futures in a globalised world by addressing questions like: How does the difference between identity and identification deepen our philosophical understanding of human experience? Can conceptual clarity on identity help reduce ethnic and religious violence? How have historical forces such as colonialism, imperialism, and (forced) migration influenced how identities are formed and contested? Does emphasising lived experience as a prerequisite for interpreting cultural works limit or enhance cross-cultural understanding? How do power dynamics shape identities, and can these identities resist or reinforce societal inequalities? How can intercultural philosophy offer a better way to think about identity? Can interdisciplinary perspectives help address the challenges of identity?

Papers can be proposed on the concepts in the title or on sub-themes. Suggested topics include but are not limited to:

• Identity and Identification in Shaping Human Experience

• Conceptual Clarity on Identity and Its Role in Reducing Violence

• The Impact of Colonialism and Migration on Identity Formation

• Power Dynamics and Inequalities in the Construction of Identity

• Lived Experience and Representation in Cross-Cultural Understanding

• Intercultural Philosophy as a Framework for Understanding Identity

• Interdisciplinary Approaches to Addressing Identity Challenges

• Fostering Solidarity and Avoiding Division in Global Identity Discussions

• Artificial Intelligence, Transhumanism and the Evolution of Identity

We invite proposals for individual papers, seminars, panels, and roundtables. For individual papers, abstracts should not exceed 300 words, accompanied by a short biography of the presenter (100–150 words). Panel proposals (3–5 participants) should include a 300-word abstract describing the panel’s overarching theme, along with titles and short summaries (50–100 words each) of all included papers, as well as short biographies for each participant. Similarly, roundtable proposals (6–8 participants) should include a 300-word abstract outlining the discussion topic and its relevance, along with a list of participants and their short biographies.

Proposals for seminars should detail the seminar’s focus and objectives in no more than 300 words, indicating the target audience (e.g., graduate students, researchers, practitioners) and specifying if any prior reading or preparation is required. A brief biography (100–150 words) of the seminar leader(s) must also be included.

You may submit your proposals from August 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025 to:

[email protected]

Abstracts must be original and clearly aligned with the conference themes.

For further information or inquiries, please contact:

KHIMAJA CONNELL [email protected] (UWI, Mona)

FRANZ GMAINER-PRANZL: [email protected] (PLUS)

JANICE SMITH [email protected] (UWI, Mona)

CRISTINA THURNWALDER [email protected] (PLUS)