THE FIRST FREEDOMS:
MIHAJLOV’S QUEST FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
HILTON, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, USA, August 4-7, 2011
The times call for a re-assessment of Mihajlo Mihajlov’s life, work, and legacy, whose significance reaches well beyond Tito’s Yugoslavia, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe. Mihajlov’s quest for democracy and human rights is an inspiration for all who strive for an open society, pluralism, and tolerance. An indefatigable human rights champion, Mihajlov’s example contributed to the rise of dissent, civic culture, and civil society, which ushered in momentous changes culminating in the peaceful revolution in Eastern Europe and the demise of Soviet rule. Mihajlov’s first freedoms–speech, thought, press, assembly, association, philosophical, political and religious persuasion–remain a continuing challenge, East and West, North and South. Curiously, Mihajlov’s thought offers a conceptual bridge between Westernizers and Slavophiles, while his universalism helped him befriend dissidents of all ethnic groups. Indeed, Mihajlov’s was a universal message of individual freedom and social justice. His undogmatic spirituality and central conception of human dignity drew on Russian religious philosophy. The question arises: Can the Mihajlov strategy guide today the quest for basic human rights and freedoms, constitutionalism, the rule of law, and democratization by strengthening global civil society? And, can the vision of popular self-government be realized in a world of competing socio-economic, political, and ethno-national interests and ideologies?
KEYNOTE: “MIHAJLO MIHAJLOV: HOMELAND IS FREEDOM”
Maria M. Ivusic, Washington (Mihajlo’s Sister & Translator)
FREEDOMS SYMPOSIUM GUIDELINES:
FIRST FREEDOMS interdisciplinary theme endeavors to bring together scholars from a wide range of disciplines and denominations. We invite all colleagues for an exciting conference which takes both scholarship and faith seriously. Symposium Venue: FREEDOMS is co-sponsored by IIR-ICSA-JIS in the City of the Roses–the world-famous Tournament of Roses, in sunny Southern California, with many cultural/sightseeing opportunities. Send Abstracts (250 words) to: c/o Dr. O. Gruenwald, JIS Editor, 1065 Pine Bluff Dr., Pasadena, CA 91107, USA, per e-mail (no attachments) to: FREEDOMS (click for e-mail). Include: Title, First & Last Name, faculty or student, mailing address, phone & e-mail. Publication: Fully-developed papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies XXIV 2012. Conference Web: www.JIS3.org/symposium2011 Registration: Symposium participants must preregister: $75 by 15 April 2011; $100 after 15 April 2011; $150 after 1 June 2011.
FREEDOMS SYMPOSIUM STRUCTURE:
Check-In: Thursday, August 4, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Hilton Pasadena. Reception: Thursday, August 4, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Main Congress Program: Friday – Saturday, August 5 – 6, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Keynote: Friday, August 6, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Format: Multidisciplinary panels and papers. Participants are encouraged to attend the entire conference to enhance dialogue, synergy, and synthesis, as well as fellowship. Presenting a paper is not a prerequisite for participation. Indicate if you prefer to serve as discussant. Family members enjoy the reduced student registration rate. Audio-Visual Equipment: Bring laptop or flash drive if PowerPoint presentation. Cultural/Sightseeing: Before or after the conference. Optional Field Trip: Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS:
Lodging: We recommend that conference participants make their hotel and airline reservations as soon as possible. Hilton Pasadena Reservations: 1-800-445-8667; 1-626-577-1000. Online Group Reservation Page: Freedoms (click). Special Group Rate: $119 (+ tax) single or double occupancy/per night. Bring an alarm clock and a sweater or jacket for cooler mornings and evenings. Cultural/sightseeing/travel/accommodations: Pasadena Visitors Bureau: 1-800-307-7977. Ground Transportation: Hilton Pasadena (168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101) may be reached from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via shuttles, e.g., Super Shuttle (shared ride $23): 1-800-258-3826, or rent-a-car (ca. 45 minute drive).