Report from SASNET’s Workshop about Global Networking in South Asian studies, 27-28 August, 2001

The workshop took place at the Old Bishop’s Palace in Lund on 27-28 August 2001. About 40 persons attended the workshop and gave a good start for SASNET’s global networking. See full list of participants.

The idea behind the workshop was to place SASNET´s work in a broader discussion about patterns and mechanisms in the current global changes brought about by information technology, the growth of global “network societies” and the implications of this for researchers and teachers networking between the West (including Sweden) and South Asia globally. What positive contribution can a network like SASNET make in this context given these conditions for its work? See Staffan Lindberg´s background paper on ”SASNET and issues to be discussed” (as a pdf-file).

In the following report we present the papers read at the workshop.
The final discussion is also presented.

Programme Monday 27 August

• Welcome address by Vice-Chancellor Boel Flodgren

Networking in the era of globalization

• Dr Mats Benner: “Advantages and disadvantages of scientific networking in the era of ‘globalisation’.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Final points made by Mats Benner
• Dr Rita Afsar: “Globalization, International Migration and the Need for Networking: The Bangladesh Perspective.”Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Comments on Rita Afsar´s paper by Jan Magnusson
• Discussion on the papers of Mats Benner and Rita Afsar (chair: Eva Hellman)

Globalization and networking in public health

• Prof Zulfiqar Bhutta: ”Structural Adjustment and Public Health in South Asia – What does it mean for International Networking in Health Research and Researcher Training?” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion (chair: Bo Lindblad)

Indo-Dutch co-operation

• Dr Piet Terhal: “The Indo-Dutch programme on Alternatives in Development: Reflections on a personal experience.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion (chair: Catarina Kinnvall)

Understanding culture and religion as a process

• Prof Jan Hjärpe: “Global Academic Networking and the question of Nationalism, Ethnicity and Religious affiliation in South Asia.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion (chair: Catarina Kinnvall)

Programme Tuesday 28 August

Interdisciplinary collaboration in research on water and biotechnology

• Prof Jan Lundqvist: “Finite Water and Growing Societal Needs and Wants – Opportunities and challenges for interdisciplinary research networking.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Prof Ronald Herring: “Promethean Science, Pandora’s Jug and Areal Studies: Globalization Makes Strange Bedfellows.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion on the papers by Lundqvist and Herring (chair: Rajni Hatti Kaul)

The need for humanism in networking

• Prof Rana P B Singh: “The Story of Indian Tradition: Networking/Remote Sensing vs. Worknetting/Intimate sensing.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion (chair: Rajni Hatti Kaul)

Theory and praxis in networking

• Prof Graham Chapman: “The Theoretical and Empirical Properties of Communities of Communicators.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion (chair: Pamela Price)

Regional conflicts and attemps at co-operation

• Prof Björn Hettne: “Communication and non-communication in a regional system: The pathological conflict pattern of South Asia.” Full paper (as a pdf-file)
• Discussion (chair: Pamela Price)

Final Session

• General Discussion on how best to network between Sweden, the West and South Asia, setting priorities like emphasizing movement of people both ways, etc.
• Read the full discussion (chair: Staffan Lindberg)