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International Conference in Hungary
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The SGI-affiliated Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research sponsored a conference at the International Business School (IBS) in Budapest, Hungary, in July. Peace scholars and researchers from 23 countries participated in the event, which was the final conference of the Toda Institute's "Globalization, Regionalization and Democratization (GRAD): An Inter-Civilizational Dialogue and Research Project." The three-year GRAD project has brought together some 90 scholars in research programs aimed at analyzing the realization of democratization amid tensions brought about by rapid globalization and concurrent with the establishment of global governance centered on the United Nations.
The first plenary session was a panel discussion on the theme "What can peace scholars do in a world at war?" Participants discussed the role of the UN in times of war, as well as democracy and soft power and women's roles in conflict resolution. They also exchanged ideas on peace, education, art, culture and the environment in a globalizing world.
In his message to the conference, the Toda Institute's founder Daisaku Ikeda mentioned the significance of the European Union, emphasizing its challenge to overcome ethnic, cultural and religious differences and the need to strengthen global efforts to avoid conflicts. Mr. Ikeda also stressed that the spirit of altruism that extends beyond national boundaries will serve as an axis for building a culture of peace.
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