What are the problems unique to life in mixed cities? How can the differences between inhabitants be turned into a source of empowerment? What are the conflicts that characterize life in mixed cities in Israel and across the world, and how should they be addressed? How can we make mixed cities accessible to all the populations that inhabit them?
The “Shared Living in a Mixed City” conference showcases fieldwork and academic studies from Israel and across the world, which aim at exploring the basic problems facing the different populations that live in mixed cities, and which look for new ways to improve their lives. Both the problems and the solutions will be examined in light of the principles of democracy – liberty, equality, solidarity and human rights.
A “mixed city” is a city inhabited by distinct and different population groups. These differences can be in skin color (e.g., black or white), language (e.g., Hebrew or Amharic), ethnicity (e.g., Ashkenazi or Sepharadi), religion (e.g., Christianity or Judaism), or nationality (e.g., Arab or Jew). In these cities, each group has its own needs and cultural and/or national customs, and these concepts sometimes collide, leading to conflicts of varying intensities, from violent conflicts rooted in disagreement about sovereignty and rule of the city (as in Jerusalem), to conflicts related to life style.
Each plenary in the conference will examine a different field of interest or activity within the urban space:
- representation of different populations and communities in decision-making processes;
- political culture, commerce and the economy;
- culture, art and crafts;
- competitive and amateur sports;
- youth-related problems and challenges;
- sustainability and the environment;
- accessibility to municipal services;
- conflict resolution strategies.