14th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF WACRA-EUROPE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
TOWARDS MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE OF INTEGRATED SOCIOECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
16-19 September 1997
Organized by:
The World Association for Case Method Research and Case Method Application
(WACRA)
The TGO2 on Sociocybernetics and Systems Theory of the International
Sociological Association.
La Sociedad Espa=F1ola de Sistemas Generales=20
Sponsored by Universidad Complutense de Madrid
CRITICAL ISSUES IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable Development is an important policy objective at global European,
national and local levels. While it has been thouroghly analysed from a
theoretical and political perspective, there is an urgent need to deal with
the regional and local application of that concept. There is also a need to
develop
and compare strategies and options, practical steps, problems and conflicts
in the transition towards sustainability. Moreover, one has do develop
operational indicators and measures of progress. Performance, in relation to
sustainable development, must be assessable.
There is the intention that economic development moves toward
sustainability, in the spirit of shared responsability by the various
societal actors. In this
context, it is important to clarify and debate various views of sustainable
development, how to manage the process of transition and how to improve
policy development.
Objectives
To analyse the human demands of complex problem solving and conflict
resolution in the process of transitation towards Sustainable Development,
and to indicate how these demands can be fostered in higher education.
To identify and evaluate the range of possible options in the field of
sociocybernetic action in response to critical environmentlal situations and
in the
framework of sustainable development.
To develop ecolgical, economic and social indicator systems and criteria,
which can be used to control the progress in the transition towards
sustainable development
PRIZES
Research is important for the future of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT therefore
the Programme Committee intends to enourage research by
awarding prizes for the three best papers. The papers will be evaluated by
an independient team of experts.
CONFERENCE TOPICS
1.- Philosophy of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Can this concept be
validly/heuristically observed?
2.- Some nominal and operational definitions of the concept and their
practical relevance. Validity of the concept at regional and local levels.
3.- The operational components of the concept: Component analysis from a
transdisciplinary viewpoint.
4.- Problems and methodologies of qualitiative and quantitative measurement
and comparability. Integration of subconcepts in a single composite index of
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
5.- The transition to SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT as an exercise in complex
problem solving. Cases on problems and conflicts encountered in the regional
and local application of the concept.
6.- SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in specific socio-economic systems such as
agriculture and food production.
7.- The role of sociocybernetic control in the pursuit of SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT and in responding to the challenge of climate change and its
consequences.
8.- Reforming higher education in order to accommodate the social and
political goal of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
9.- General Applications of the concept of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in Social
Systems, with special application to the enterprise.
Papers should be written in English, French or Spanish with an Abstract of
300 words in English
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Abstracts (maximum 300 words) should be sent to the Programme Committee
Chairperson in Madrid (address overleaf) to arrive not later than 15th
February 1997. Notification of acceptance, or otherwise, will be given by
1st May 1997. Final draft of complete papers must be received by 1st June
1997. All papers received by that date will be available in bound form at
the conference registration. Selected papers will be published in "Research=
on
Cases and Theories", Hampp Press, Mering (Munich), Germany. Papers should be
submitted in camera-ready format on A4 paper, with diagram on
separate sheets in similar format. While arrangements for reviewing papers
will be made by the Committee, authors may, if they wish,. submit the names
of three suggested reviewers.
APPLICATIONS
Your application form, together with your abstract, should be sent to the
Programme Committee Chairperson.
Prof. Francisco Parra-Luna
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Facultad de CC.PP. y Sociolog=EDa
28023 Somosaguas Madrid Espa=F1a
Tfo. (34-1) 394-29-23 Fax (34-1) 394-29-01
Home (34-1) 638-97-31 Email: parralun@luznet.es
ACCOMMODATION
All conference delegates will be accommodated in the Colegio Mayor Jim=E9nez
de Cisneros (Student single rooms). However, a list of local
hotels for those delegates who wish to make their own arragements can be
supplied upon request.
N.B. The conference commences on Tuesday afternoon and concludes after
lunch on Friday.
FEES (USA dollars)
Before After
1 May 97 1May 97
Members of WACRA or
TGO2 (ISA) or SESGE $ 400 $ 600
Non Members $ 550 $ 825
Students $ 250 $ 375
Non residential Fees $ 150 $ 225
Fees include: Conference registration, single room accommodation and all
mealsfor the four days of the Conference. Fees for part-time
attendance and for partners/companions are available on request. Conference
fee payable on acceptance of abstract.
APPLICATION FORM
I will be attending the:
14th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF WACRA-EUROPE=20
ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: TOWARDS MEASURING=20
THE PERFORMANCE OF INTEGRATED SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
-Theories and cases-
to be held at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, 16th to 19th September
1997.
I will/will not be submitting a paper.
Title of Paper:___________________________________________
Name:_________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________
Tel._________Fax____________Email:______________________
To send to:
Prof. Francisco Parra-Luna
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Facultad de CC.PP. y Sociolog=EDa
28023 Somosaguas, Madrid, Espa=F1a
Prof. F.Parra-Luna