The conference will reflect the ongoing debate about culture, and examine the various influential theories, but most of all the practice of cultural research. The gender aspect will be interwoven in all topics of the conference. There is no controlling body in the world society, which has the full capacity to deal with problems outside the political borders of nations. These phenomena seem to be particularly interesting in light of the ongoing dual process of globalization on the one hand, regionalization and localization on the other. The development has also been characterized as one from class to culture, in which phenomena such as culture and identity have, if not replaced, at least come to supplement class as explanatory variables for social change.
Postcolonial movements point out new fields of investigations.
They are of crucial evidence for an understanding of the Other in today's world. There is an expanded flow of individuals and cultures across the borders that are influencing city areas through migration, travel and an intensified global communication. The counter-effect is another phase of fragmentarization. It is more necessary than ever before to understand the mechanisms of ethnic violence and the return of fundamentalism. In the long run the target is to explore directions for future research projects on global and cultural issues.