'Belief' in Cultural Relations

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The Fellowship's aim is to explore how belief is being used as a major principle in international cultural relations and consider its impact for people and policy. This relates to intercultural dialogue and many issues that affect everyday lives: language skills, migration, integration, diversity, and openness in society. The project will consider whether and how 'belief' can be developed as a core value in contemporary cultural relations, and how important it might be in developing a new approach to future intercultural dialogue activities and projects. The Fellowship is held by Dr Abby Day, an internationally recognised and respected social anthropologist, award-winning researcher and popular key-note speaker and guest lecturer at academic conferences and universities worldwide. She is Chair of the Sociology of Religion study group within the British Sociological Association and a member of the American Anthropology Association, American Association of Geographers, British Association for the Study of Religions, British Sociological Association; International Society for the Sociology of Religion; and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Her recent research developing a wider understanding of belief in cross-cultural contexts was published in September by one of the world's most respected publishers, Oxford University Press. Dr Day holds research posts at the University of Kent and University of Sussex. The Fellow's initial focus will be to review key academic articles, news reports, government publications and other material to identify some of the misconceptions that can block engagement with other cultures, perspectives or world views. The Fellow will then identify common meanings and uses of the term 'belief' as a religious and non-religious term and consider how it fits within what some describe as a recent rise in religiosity and a so-called 'clash of civilisations'. Her background as a well-published and funded researcher gives her the experience and networks to conduct such reviews systematically, broadly, creatively and in depth. The Fellow will work with British Council and AHRC staff in the UK and in, particularly, North Africa and the Near East to learn more about the issues of belief on the ground and how those help or impede intercultural dialogue. By sharing research skills and filling knowledge gaps, the Fellow will help staff identify and respond to debates. A series of staff training and engagement events will result in localised materials than can help staff communicate better with media and key decision makers and influential members of the public. The Fellow is an experienced facilitator and her research record demonstrates her ability to engage with and drawn on people's formal and informal knowledge and experience.Collaboration with international academic networks and conference/seminars will widen the debate and analysis to address key concepts about belief, culture, and identity in the context of wider discussions on religion, pluralism, and community. The Fellow is an experienced conference/seminar organiser and editor of journal and book publications.