The Background

In a provocative and visionary book entitled “the Post-Corporate World – Life After Capitalism” published in 1999, David C. Korten, a world renowned intellectual and development activist, argued that the post-corporate world is taking place as more people in every country are awakened to face and cope with the increasing threat of social and environmental collapse driven by global capitalism. He wrote that

“(i)ndeed, millions of people, unsung heroes of a new era, are already hard at work constructing the building blocks of a post-corporate – post-capitalist civilization. They are demonstrating alternatives far more a attractive and viable than socialism or the failed economic models of the former Soviet Union. The most promising alternatives center on applying the familiar principles of democratic governance and market economics to create societies that function in service to life and treat money as a facilitator, not the purpose, of our economic life.

The determined pioneers are creating new political parties and movements, strengthening their communities, deepening their spiritual practice, discovering joyous liberation of voluntary simplicity, building networks of locally rooted businesses, certifying socially and environmentally responsible products, restoring forests and watersheds, promoting public transportation and defining urban growth boundaries, serving as peacemakers between hostile groups, advancing organic agriculture, practicing holistic health, directing their investments to socially responsible businesses, organizing recycling campaigns, and demanding that trade agreements protect the rights of people and the environment.

They are present in every country. They come from  every race, class, religion, and ethnic group. They include landless and illiterate peasants but also corporate executives; they include union members, shareholders, ranchers, teachers, housewives, small-business owners, farmers, local government officials, inner-city kids, loggers, wealthy intellectuals, and reformed gang leaders. The majority are women. Fed up with the failures of elitist leadership and distant bureaucracies, they are demonstrating the powerful potential of truly democratic forms of leadership in which people take direct responsibility for the health and well-being of themselves, their families, their communities, and the planet”(p.2-3).

Nearly a decade after the book published, to see its inspiring contribution to understanding what is really happening in the world, we believe that Korten’s insightful, illuminating and hopeful vision of a more humane future life after capitalism deserves empirically based intense and constructive public dialogues and discussions that allow us to see how far such a vision have penetrated and generated changes in people-community life and the environment.

The International Symposium

In line with Korten’s insightful vision of life after capitalism, we propose that the 5^th International Symposium of Jurnal Antropologi Indonesia to be held in July, 2008 will focus on the following theme: “The Future of Indonesia: Sustainable Development and Local Initiatives in the Post Capitalist Era.”

The Steering Committee of this international symposium has been trying to identify potential panel titles which may be the guidance for paper authors. This is an open ended list since it may be extended through whenever there is suggestion to add more titles which are considerably relevant.

Please feel free to browse our details information on the left navigation links:

The Panels | Registration | Deadlines | Venue | Hotels