BUILDING SOVEREIGNTY, PREVENTING
HEGEMONY:
The Challenges for Emerging Forces in
the Globalised World
International and
Multidisciplinary Conference in the framework of a commemoration of the 60th
anniversary of the 1955 Bandung Asian-African Conference
Yogyakarta-Bandung-Jakarta,
Indonesia
October 26-31, 2015
One of the main objectives
of the Bandung Conference in 1955 was to promote economic and cultural
cooperation among countries of Africa and Asia. At that time, most of countries
in Asia and Africa just gained their independence and obviously their economic
performance were far behind those of developed countries. Currently, many
countries in Asia and Africa have important role in the world economy, however
other countries in the region have been suffering from prolonged conflict and
epidemic of contagious diseases. For many countries in Asia and Africa, poverty
alleviation, income inequality, food security, education attainment, health
care, crime and corruption, institution and environmental issues are still the
main obstacles that they have strived to tackle. Although many developing
countries have enjoyed their independence, it is not necessarily they maintain
their economic sovereignty.
Although
it may not be related directly to the Bandung Conference, substantial progress
in the field of economics have been initiated since post colonial era. The
emergence of game theory, experimental economics, Islamic economics, Buddhist
economics, economic of information and new institutional economics took place
during this era and provide substantial contribution for shaping economics
these days. The advancement of development economics cannot be separated from
the complexity in development process faced by many developing countries in
post colonial era. In relation to the Bandung Spirit, one of the question that
may be raised is whether the current development in economic theories may be
used to form a strategy for development process in Asia and Africa? If the
answer is negative, to what extent economists in Asia and Africa have developed
alternative theories supposed to be more suitable to economic situation in
their countries?
After
the second world war, attempts had been made to form economic integration in
developed countries. This strategy was followed by developing countries during
the Cold War period. In the post Cold War period, there has been a tendency of
forming economic integrations, in which the members consist of both developed
and developing countries. In relation to the Bandung Spirit, one of questions
that may be raised is whether economic integration support the cooperation
among countries in Asia and Africa? Is there any evidence that economic
cooperation of South-North has been flourished post the Bandung Conference?
This
conference will provide a media to discuss various topics in the area of economics
and economic development. The coverage of the topics are the following, but not
limited to:
a) Current development of trade and investment relationships
between Asia and Africa: has it already reflected the Bandung Spirit?
b) Income inequality, food security, education and health care in
Asia and Africa: complexities and opportunities to resolve them.
c) Institution, crime and corruption, and environmental issues
in Asia and Africa.
d) In search of alternative models of economic development in Africa
and Asia.
We strongly encourage other
topics related to endeavor of countries in Africa and Asia in developing
indigenous/local approach in economic development and economic policy. Needless
to say that other issues in the areas of economics and economic development in
Asia and Africa are encouraged to be discussed in the conference.
The
Economy group is part of five thematic groups of the Bandung+60 conference,
along with Culture, Ecology, Politics and Spirituality & Religion. The
discussions in economy working group focus on several challenges in economic
development faced by developing countries such as poverty, income inequality,
food security, education attainment, health care, crime and corruption,
institution, and environmental issues. We encourage submission of empirical
papers in any field in economics and development economics, which focus on the
issues above in developing countries, in particular countries in Asia and
Africa.
It
is expected that through discussions and debate during the conference, we have
a better understanding to the complexity of economic development across
developing countries six decades after the Bandung Conference. By the Bandung
Spirit, we exchange our knowledge, and may form collaborations, on how to
tackle some of the obstacles in development mentioned above.
Seminar coordinator
Mr. Tulus Tambunan,
Indonesia (Prof. Dr., Economics, Trisakti University, Jakarta)
Working group members
Mr. Fachru Nofrian,
Indonesia
Ms Ida Busnetty, Indonesia
Mr. Muhammad Malik Ibrahim
Said, Indonesia
Ms Nadia
Chettab, Algeria
Mr. Rimawan Pradiptyo,
Indonesia
Ms Sri Adiningsih, Indonesia
Mr. Tyson Tirta, Indonesia
Mr. William Kwan Hwie Liong,
Indonesia
Mr. Youcef Benabdallah,
Algeria