This multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary conference aims to identify the underlying factors which contribute to and understand the prevailing extent of violence in contemporary life. It likewise aims to probe the representation of violence in media, art and literature and assess the contextual implications of such representations. Violence remains a horrifying feature of today's world; the project actively seeks to explore whether there can be a culture counter to the culture of violence and how is it to be promoted.

The conference will be structured around 4 main thematic groupings; papers, presentations, reports and workshops are invited on the following themes;

1. Perspectives for Understanding Violence
Papers will explore the methodologies available for uncovering the underlying factors which contribute to violence, the perspectives provided by all disciplines and field practitioners for attempting to understand violence and the models available for developing interdisciplinary methods for approaching violence.

2. The Objects and Goals of Violence
Papers will explore those who are targeted by perpetrators of violence and seek to analyse the goals that such forms of violence seek to achieve. In particular, papers can focus on
a) issues of domestic violence directed toward families, women and children
b) issues of community violence directed toward ethnic and minority groups, racial groups, issues of nationalism, youth and gang violence, hooliganism
c) issues of institutional violence - violence in the workplace, schools, hospitals, police and law enforcement agencies
d) issues of state violence - as both an internal phenomenon (against citizenry - civil war, terrorism and the metropolis; repression; 'surveillance' culture post 9/11; legitimation of violence through the law, punishment and capital punishment) as well as an external phenomenon (cultures of war and militarism, 'intervention' and 'pre-emptive' policies, cultures of societies that develop into excessively warlike states, religion, religious institutions, and their role in curtailing or propelling violence; religious fundamentalism and violence
e) understanding violence by understanding the impact it has on its victims

3. Representations of Violence
Papers will look at the explore the role of media in recording, portraying, disseminating, and reflecting on violence. All forms of media are included - radio, tv, cinema, theatre, graffiti, internet, music, art, sculpture, books, propaganda. The methods of portrayal and the intentions of portrayal will be assessed.

4. Counter Cultures to Violence
Papers will explore whether there are or can be counter cultures to the cultures of violence and how these might be developed. In particular, papers may look at the emerging trend of the use of violence to achieve peace (e.g., the human/animal rights agenda), anti-globalisation violence, anti-vivisection violence; the work and role of NGO's; the role of enforcement and prosecution; the promotion of education and educative strategies; prevention strategies

Papers will be considered on any related theme. The conference is part of a larger series of on-going conferences, run under the general banner ‘At the Interface'. It aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas and explore various discussions which are innovative and exciting.

The first Diversity within Unity was held in Prague in 1999 and focused on the theme of Human Community and Civil Society. The second conference was held in Oxford in 2000 and focused on the theme of Culture, Conflict, and Belonging. The third conference met in Prague in 2002 and looked at Cultures of Violence; the theme was been carried over to the 2003 conference.

300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 4th June 2004; please send to: Dr Rob Fisher

Full draft papers should be submitted by Friday 13th August 2004. Papers accepted for previous conferences have been published in themed volumes. All papers accepted for and presented at this conference will be published in an ISBN eBook. Selected papers will be developed in light of conference discussions for publication in a themed hard copy volume.