Conflicts, Inequalities and Development
Conflicts, Inequalities and Development
An interdisciplinary and intercultural Fall School across the cultural landscape of Umbria.
Participants
20 students from Hiroshima University and 10 students from the University of Perugia.
Days
Including arrival and departure, from 17 to 25 September 2026.
Daily structure
Morning lecture or workshop, followed by an afternoon cultural activity.
Perspectives
Economics, political science, sociology, psychology, culture and art.
Knowledge, culture and dialogue in the heart of Umbria
The School “Conflicts, Inequalities and Development” aims to provide an interdisciplinary and intercultural learning experience that brings together students from the University of Hiroshima and the University of Perugia. Set across the rich cultural landscape of Umbria, the program combines academic engagement with immersive local experiences, fostering both intellectual and personal growth.
The initiative explores the complex relationships between social and economic inequalities, conflict dynamics, and pathways to sustainable development. Through a multidisciplinary approach, participants will engage with perspectives from economics, political science, sociology, psychology and cultural studies, encouraging critical reflection on global and local challenges.
Each day is structured to balance theoretical and experiential learning: morning lectures and workshops will introduce key concepts and case studies, while afternoon cultural activities across the Umbria region will provide opportunities to contextualize these themes in real-world settings.
A central objective of the School is to promote mutual understanding and dialogue among participants from different cultural and academic backgrounds. By encouraging collaborative learning and exchange, the program seeks to develop the skills needed to navigate diversity, address conflicts constructively, and contribute to more inclusive and equitable forms of development.
Ultimately, the Fall School aspires to create a dynamic space where knowledge, culture, and dialogue intersect, empowering students to become thoughtful and engaged global citizens.
Six perspectives on conflict, peace and development
Morning sessions combine academic insight, case studies and interdisciplinary discussion in different locations across Umbria.
When Inequality Breeds Conflict: Institutions, Power, and Social Justice
How unjust inequalities and weak institutions create fertile ground for conflict, and how political actors may exploit social divisions, highlighting the importance of inclusive development and social justice.
Media, Power, and Conflict: How Political Communication Shapes Contemporary Societies
How contemporary political actors use traditional and digital media to construct populistic narratives, shape identities, and mobilize conflict in the pursuit of consensus and political power.
Turning Coexistence into War: Political Elites, Identity, and the Dissolution of Yugoslavia
How political elites mobilized nationalism and religious identities during the Yugoslav crisis, transforming a multicultural society into a theatre of violent conflict and state fragmentation.
From Saint Francis to Civil Economy: Rethinking Competition, Cooperation, and the Common Good
How Umbria’s spiritual and cultural heritage inspired the principles of Civil Economy, offering a vision of development based on reciprocity, cooperation, and the common good as an alternative to purely competitive economic paradigms.
Painting Peace: Giotto, Saint Francis, and the Making of a New Humanism
How Giotto’s frescoes in Assisi translated the Franciscan vision of humanity into a revolutionary artistic language, illustrating the role of culture and art in promoting dialogue, peace, and the common good.
Building Peace from Within: Psychology, Identity, and Emotional Resilience
How individual and collective identities, emotions, self-esteem, and emotional regulation shape conflict and cooperation, and how psychological resilience can foster peaceful coexistence.
Download the complete programme
Download the official START Program 2026 flyer in PDF format.
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