Oportunity for Paper Presentations

International Conference on ‘Religion, Ethics and Corporate Culture’

Department of Christian Studies, University of Madras, is proposing to organize an international

conference on Religion, Ethics and Corporate Culture on 22 & 23 September 2011.

Rationale of the Conference:

Today’s world experiences a thick presence of corporate culture, a culture generated by the

emergence and predominance of global multinational corporate houses, the ICT-aided media

giants, the service sector companies (banking, insurance, education, etc.) and the like. It is a

culture specific to the contemporary globalised world, superseding the traditional feudal and

even the modern industrial capitalist era. While those regions already in an ‘advanced stage of

economic development’ experience a heavy presence of this culture, the developing regions are

fast catching up with it.

The profile, dynamics and impact of this culture is complex and multifaceted. It promises the

cultivation of a competitively-oriented dynamic human agency, manifest in the massive

movement of personnel and people across continents, in the collapse of borders (social, religious,

cultural, political), in the weakening of traditional hierarchical socio-cultural systems (For

example, the way patriarchal and caste hierarchy are weakening in the Indian context), in the

promise of eradication of unemployment, underdevelopment, and so on.

Economizing of life and resources, profitability, productivity, individual performance, resultorientedness,and above all, an instrumental rationality are the ingredients of this culture. Its

impact is so powerful that it engenders patterns of behaviour, cultural systems, worldviews,

ethos, and even philosophical variants, which privilege individualism and utilitarianism reckoned

in terms of individual dividends and benefits. An immense synchronic focus on the means of life

takes over, thereby weakening teleological orientations for personal or for collective living.

Corporate culture has serious implications, both positively and negatively, for the present day

living as well as for the future of humanity on earth. It impacts upon every sphere of life,

including those of religion and ethics. Under its impact, religions and ethical systems have

begun to mediate experiences which are thick in contemporary concerns, characterized by a

utilitarian urge. Human life is counted for what it produces! Religious and ethical systems

experience a melt down from their metaphysical and ontological certainties and are drawn into

the dynamics of an instrumental rationality.

Unfortunately, such monsters as religious communalism, religious fundamentalism, corrupt

political life, etc. are said to thrive on a soil fertilized by corporate culture. As Jurgen Habermas

would have it, there is a ‘colonisation of the lifeworld’ by forces of money and power today.

These and several other corporatist organizational features characterize not merely the

stakeholders of corporate houses, but also of the wider socio-cultural institutions, including such

personal and intimate social institutions as family, kinship, community, and so on.

These developments necessitate a serious reflection on the interface between the corporate

culture on the one hand, and religion and ethics on the other. Based on this perceived necessity a

conference is proposed to be organized under the general theme of Religion, Ethics, and

Corporate Culture. What are the promises and challenges of corporate culture, especially in

terms of their interaction with religious and ethical systems of humanity is the central question

which is sought to be addressed during this conference. Some of the probable topics are given

below. One can, however, choose any topic related to the general theme.

Probable Topics:

1. Religious pluralism

Ø Managing religious diversity in a globalized Corporate World.

2. Post Secularism

Ø The re-emergence of religion in the public sphere and its effect on Corporate

Policy.

3. The Secular / Post Secular debate.

Ø A contextual understanding of religious practices in the Indian Corporate World.

4. Religious fundamentalism and the Corporate World.

Ø Is Corporate Culture dousing fundamentalism?

5. Corporate Culture & family life.

Ø Is Nihilism undermining fundamental family unity?

6. Corporate Culture & Gender hegemony.

Ø Is the Corporate World empowering women?

7. Corporate Culture & Social hegemonies.

Ø Is Corporate empowerment of the working class breaking down social barriers?

8. New Age Religion & Corporate Culture.

Ø Is the Corporate World using new age religion for people management?

9. Corporate Culture & Communalism.

Ø Is the Corporate World a melting pot of Cultures & Religions?

10. Corporate Culture & Corruption.

Ø Money power in public life.

11. Corporate World & Media.

Ø Is media the mouthpiece of business houses?

12. The Corporatization of religious bureaucracy.

Ø Is the profit motive permeating religious institutions?

13. The Religio ethical life in a globalized Corporate World.

Ø Does the corporate culture ‘colonize the lifeworld’ of the people?

14. Corporate Culture as Religion.

Ø The overarching influence of Corporate Ethics on personal behaviour.

15. Corporate ‘Codes of Conduct’

Ø Are these followed more in the breach?

Those interested to present papers during the conference are requested to send a 400 word

abstract on any of the above topics or related ones to the following e-mail ids: johnc@ifi.co.in

& christianstudy@gmail.com on or before 20 June 2011. Those selected will have to submit

the paper by 10 September 2011. A paper presenter will get 30 minutes for presentation (20 for

presentation and 10 for questions and discussion). Selected papers will be eventually published

in a separate volume.

Venue of the Conference: University of Madras, Chennai – 5

Dates of the Conference: 22 & 23 September 2011

Date to submit the abstract: 20 June 2011

Extension of Last Date :

The date of submission for paper presentation for the International Conference on ‘Religion,

Ethics and Corporate Culture’ is extended up to 15.07.2011.