This project examines contemporary catastrophes in the context of globalizing processes, and studies the latter through the perspective offered by the former. It seeks to establish a better understanding of the role catastrophe plays in the politics and culture of our times, of which it has become one of the most prominent figures. But it also wishes to elaborate on the puzzling notion of globalization, by considering the catastrophe as one of its most emblematic sites.

Contemporary catastrophes are understood here as large-scale and complex human disasters (both "natural" and "man-made") that, for a certain period and within a certain area, have become unmanageable. Our working premise is that contemporary catastrophes should be perceived as effects of, as well as medium and catalysts for, processes of globalization.

We further assume that they are distinguishable from earlier ones by the trans-national mechanisms of relief and aid, as well as the political and economic intervention that they activate and by various forms of trans-national causal chains in which they are involved. Because contemporary catastrophes are embedded in globalizing processes they should be studies in the context of the various facets of globalization; for the same reason they have become instructive sites for exploring the relationships between global networks of various types, new world orders, types of domination and forms of sovereignty and new moral-political technologies aimed at the alleviation of human suffering.

The group aim is to establish a critical analysis of contemporary catastrophes that takes into account their geopolitical, moral, economic, and sociological aspects. In particular, we address such issues as the transformation of sovereignty, forced migration, moral aspects of humanitarianism and its ambiguities, ecological catastrophes, the humanitarian roles of multinational corporations, and more.

The project is carried under the auspices of The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute (VLJI), within a framework of an interdisciplinary forum of research. The research group includes five scholars from the Tel-Aviv University:

Prof. Ronen Shamir, a critical legal scholar,
Dr. Dan Rabinowitz, an anthropologist,
Dr. Adriana Kemp, a political sociologist,
Dr. Orly Lubin, a scholar of cultural studies,
and is headed by Prof. Adi Ophir, a philosopher.

In the coming summer of 2003, members of the research group will teach a two-weeks course titled "Catastrophes and Globalization" at the CEU Summer University in Budapest. The course is part of an academic program in the humanities and social sciences open for university professors, researchers, administrators and professionals.

For more information, please contact Ms. Tal Arbel, the research project coordinator at:
talarbel@zahav.net.il / tala@vanleer.org.il
Tel: 972-2-5605249