1998
International Conference on Sustainable Improvement of Quality of Corruption
Development of New Partnerships for the 21st Century, St Petersburg - Moscow
- / -
Proposed: Happening - Pavane - Pilgrimage - Carnival - Gathering
WHY ?
The rationale for such an event may be explored in the light of the:
- Economic perspective: The proportion of the economic system controlled
or influenced by organized crime is in excess of 50 percent in some countries.
The financial system is intimately involved in transactions involving funds
derived illegally.
- Political perspective: Political systems are increasingly influenced
by some form of bribery and corruption and voters are increasingly aware of
this
- Psychoanalytical perspective: There is increasing appreciation that
individuals, communities and nations should recognize the existence of a "shadow"
and explore means of developing a relationship to it
- Social perspective: At all levels of society, people are having to
develop ways of handling contexts in which corruption of some form is part
of the way of life -- whether they like it or not.
- Cultural perspective: The understanding of what can usefully be
condemned as corruption varies significantly between cultures around the world,
as well as within the cultures of any country.
- Legal perspective: Legal systems are proving increasingly weak in
responding effectively to corruption, however dramatic may be the exceptions
that are periodically brought to trial.
- Religious perspective:Recognizing corruption, and the dynamics of
the encounter with 'evil', are the fundamental challenge for many
religions which have developed unique expertise in these processes
- Historical perspective: Human societies have a long history of interaction
with forces that can be perceived as corrupt. Many of these have in fact beeen
institutionalized and effectively 'domesticated' as pillars of modern
society.
- Security perspective: Many people are faced with a daily struggle
for personal physical security that conventional authorities are unable to
guarantee. The relationship with other forms of social organization therefore
needs to be considered proactively.
- Ecological perspective: To the extent the society may be understood
as an ecosystem, the role of predatory and parasitical social species needs
to be carefully understood in relation to the health of the social system.
- Media perspective: The media clearly have a special role in according
attention to, and dramatising, the role of marginal groups in society.
- Ethical perspective: Forced co-existence with groups operating on
a dramatically different ethical basis requies careful attention, especially
when their actions may in fact provide an appreciable measure of security
and stability to social systems in chaos.
- Humorous perspective: Corruption is a rich source of humour in every society and may even be one of the few ways in which people are able to survive psychologically its more abusive forms.
The above factors suggest that it is appropriate to design an event to consider ways of responding more proactively to the 'corruption' in which many of us are involved in one way or another, if only inadvertently. The past strategy of seeking to either deny or eliminate it has proven itself to be ineffectual.
The following initiative therefore seeks ways to improve the quality of corruption in a sustainable manner. By this is meant the identification of processes to substitute for its more brutal effects -- without necessarily diminishing the returns expected by those who engage in it. Corruption needs to move up market!
A specific purpose of the event is to contribute significantly to the emergence of new ways of thinking about processes which are denied or rejected by establishment systems which disapprove of them. To do this, it is hoped to make use of the full range of skills currently employed to enhance creativity, notably humour, music, décor and challenging contexts. As the title and location suggest, this will not be organized as a standard "international conference".
WHAT ?A gathering of some 400 people is planned for a minimum of 7 days in the last week of September. It will take place on a boat cruise from St Petersburg to Moscow.
The gathering is designed to bring together very different kinds of people whose creativity is valuable to highlighting new possibilities for corruption.
During the cruise, numerous events will be organized. Some will deliberately feed into each other, some may do so incidentally, some may be quite independent of others.
WHO ?Participants will include representatives of the following people and interests:
- bankers
- organized crime
- scholars from think tanks
- humourists
- troubadors
- intergovernmental organizations
- security forces
- theologians
- religious leaders
- educators
- psychoanalysts
- legislators
- judiciary
- media
- story tellers
It is expected that 50 percent of the participants will come from outside Russia.
SPONSORSHIP ?International: Direct or indirect sponsorship will be sought from bodies such as the following:
- World Bank
- European Commission
- Council of Europe
- International Chamber of Commerce
- Multinational corporations
- Open Society (Soros)
- Transparency International
It is to be expected that some of these bodies will not consider it appropriate to sponsor the event as such. They may however be prepared to participate participation of staff members or others at the event.
Russia: Direct or indirect sponsorship will be sought from bodies such as the following:
- Russian Bankers Association
- Orthodox Church
- ****
ORGANIZATION ?
Three separate structures will be used:
- International Advisory Committee: This will provide a credible international structure to negotiate with interested parties concerning the event, its sponsorship, it's thematic organization. It will also interface with the Secretariat and the Russian Host Organization. Members may include such people as: Peter Ustinov, Johan Galtung,
- Russian Host Committee: This will be responsible for the logistics of the event and for Russian participation. It is expected that many aspects of the organization, notably foreign participation, can be integrated into normal tourist processes. Members may include: Moscow and St Petersburg mayors, Orthodox Church, Russian Bankers Association
- 'Organizing Secretariat': This will liaise between the International Committee and the Russian Host Committee on a continuing basis and with various advisors.
This initiative arose from a series of discussions at the International School of Ignorance. This group has experimented with a technology of self-organizing, self-reflective, transformative processes.
Given the challenging nature of the event, new meeting processes will be sought and encouraged.
PROGRAMME OF EVENTSThis will include the following:
- Lectures, Panels
- Creations
- Dialogues
- Socializing
- -- Appreciation of negative forces and energies
- -- Workshops
- -- School of Ignorance
- -- Masked dance
- -- Gambling and Gaming
- -- Networking
- -- Nyetworking, Hanging out
- -- Receptions
- -- Displays (martial arts, arts, mime, etc)
- -- Substance ceremonies (alcohol, tea, etc)
- -- Transmissions
Income stream for organizers
Sponsorship
PERSONNEL FOR THE EVENTInterpretation
Consultants
MISCELLANEOUS CONCERNS- Security at the event
- Liability and insurance
- Image / Logo / Letterhead
- Address
- Takeover challenges
References
Anthony Judge. Interacting fruitfully with un-civil society: the dilemma for non-civil society organizations 1996 (41k) [text]
Anthony Judge. Misapplication of international legal norms in socially abnormal situations 1995 (25k) [text]
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