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SUS.DIV – Sustainable Development in a Diverse World
European Commission, FP6, Citizens and Governance in the Knowledge-based Economy, 2005-2010

Project co-ordinator: Dino Pinelli, dino.pinelli@feem.it

Project manager: Valeria Papponetti, valeria.papponetti@feem.it

Background and objectives
The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (UNESCO, 2001) states that "cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature" (Art 1) and that it is "one of the roots of development understood not simply in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence (Art 3)". In this vision, cultural diversity becomes a new form of capital, embodied in both material (monuments, historical sites) and immaterial cultural assets (languages, traditions and lifestyles). It is accumulated through generations and provides services for economic growth and human welfare. To move beyond the dichotomy nature/culture is to understand that the environment we inherited and that we will transmit to future generations is indeed a combination of nature and culture. In order to achieve a sustainable development we must transmit to future generations a quantity and quality of 'diversity heritage' (embodied in material and immaterial cultural assets) that does not compromise their possibility to meet their own needs.SUS.DIV aims to integrate European research capabilities across disciplines and countries in order to provide European society and polity with the instruments and tools for managing cultural diversity as a key element of a new strategy for sustainable development. SUS.DIV is structured around four Research Themes. Their aim is to integrate research capacities and capabilities by producing world-class research. They are inter-disciplinary, inter-institutional and inter-country, have a finite duration and an agreed work programme with clear and intermediate objectives and milestones:

  • Research Theme 1. Understanding diversity. Research Theme 1 aims at improving our understanding of cultural assets and of how the diversity of cultures (as manifested in different types of knowledge, traditions, lifestyles, languages and cultural expressions) may contribute to human welfare and development. It addresses the need of creating new instruments to value market and non-market benefits of diversity and integrate diversity consideration into policy-making.
  • Research Theme 2. Global vs. local: the dynamics of diversity in the globalisation era. Research Theme 2 aims at improving our understanding of the processes through which globalisation and enlargement affect cultural dynamics and of how cultural dynamics feed back into the processes of globalisation and enlargement.
  • Research Theme 3. Diversity, knowledge production and creativity. In the face of the transition towards the knowledge-based economy, Research Theme 3 aims at understanding whether, how and why diversity may contribute to knowledge production and creativity.
  • Research Theme 4. Cultural dialogue: unfolding diversity. The full potential of cultural diversity can be tapped only if cultural diversity is not interpreted simply as the mere juxtaposition of cultural differences and identities. Cultural dialogue provides the framework in which differences can be expressed and interact in a positive manner. Research Theme 4 aims at improving our understanding of the various forms of cultural dialogue and the types of initiatives that contribute to create arenas where cultural dialogue can take place and diversity unfold.

Three Structuring Action Lines cut across the vertical themes, complementing the integration impact of the Research Actions:

  • Structuring Action Lines 1. Indicators and Data. The first structuring action line coordinates the data design and data collection activities undertaken in Research Themes1-4 with three main objectives: to develop a coherent framework of indicators of diversity; to provide researchers and data providers with a Data Platform monitoring current data availability; to compare current data availability with the requirements expressed by the Research Themes and decide future actions to fill the gaps. Two pilot surveys are envisaged.
  • Structuring Action Lines 2. Coordinating and Integrating Training Activities. The second structuring action line pursues integration both at bottom-up (through exchanges of students and teachers) and top-down levels (studying the need and feasibility of a Graduate School, a Master of excellence at the European level and a Euro-PhD). The construction of a Training Platform completes the integrating content of the task.
  • Structuring Action Lines 3. Forum Initiative. The third structuring action lines has the objective of maintaining a structured dialogue and interaction with the outside research community and the stakeholders by integrating and mobilising of existing distributed strategic intelligence, within and outside the research community.

The partnership:

  1. University College London (UCL), Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom, Contractor;
  2. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven), Oude Markt 13, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, Contractor;
  3. Istituto Psicoanalitico per le Ricerche Sociali (IPRS), Passeggiata di Ripetta 11, 00186 Roma, Italy, Contractor
  4. Università Politecnica delle Marche (Ancona) - Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali (UnivPM-DSS), Piazza Roma 22, 60121 Ancona, Italy, Contractor;
  5. Centre for Economic Research and Environmental Strategy (CERES), Dochiariou Str.3, 11362 Athens, Greece, Contractor;
  6. Haagse Hogenschool (HEBO), Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 16880, 2500 BW The Hague, The Netherlands, Contractor;
  7. IDEA Strategische Economische Consulting (IDEA Consult), Congresstraat 37-41 bus 3, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, Contractor;
  8. Centro Studi Luca D'Agliano (LdA), Via Principe Amedeo, 34, 10123 Torino, Italy, Contractor;
  9. Institute of Economics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IE BAS), Aksakov Street 3, 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria, Contractor;
  10. Queen's University Belfast (QUB), University Road, BT7 1NN, Belfast, United Kingdom, Contractor;
  11. Stichting Katholieke Universiteit Brabant (Tilburg University), Warandelaan 2, 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands, Contractor;
  12. University of Amsterdam (UvA), Spui 21, 1012 WX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Contractor;
  13. Oracle - Reseau d'Administrateur culturel Européens (ORACLE), Place Van Mennen 2, 1060 Brussels, Belgium, Contractor;
  14. Umea University (UMU), Umea 901 87, 901, Umea, Sweden, Contractor;
  15. Stockholm University (SU), Universitetsvagen 10, SE 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden, Contractor;
  16. Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Comparative en Sciences Sociales (CIR), 41 rue Amilcar Cipriani, 93400, St-Ouen, France, Contractor;
  17. Matej Bel University (UMB), Narodna 12, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Contractor;
  18. Fryske Akademy (Fryske Akademy), Doelestraat 8, Leeuwarden 54, 8900 AB, The Netherlands, Contractor;
  19. Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Taskisla, Taksim, 34470 Istanbul, Turkey, Contractor;
  20. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA-SARG), 6th Chr. LAda Str., 10561, Athens, Greece, Contractor;
  21. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (ESI-VU), De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Contractor;
  22. INLECOM Systems LTD (ILS), Bramley Cottage, Town Row Green, Sussex, TN6 3QU, United Kingdom, Contractor;
  23. Bogazici Universitesi (BU), Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey, Contractor;
  24. Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), 90-98 Goswell Road, London, United Kingdom, Contractor;
  25. Universidad Del Pais Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV-EHU), Barrio De Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa Bizkaia, Spain, Contractor;
  26. University of Ulster (UU), Comore Road, BT52 1SA, Coleraine, United Kingdom, Contractor;
  27. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (R.S.A.), Lilla Frescativagen 4, 104 05 Stockhom, Sweden, Contractor;
  28. University of Miskolc (UoM), Miskolc Egyetermvaros, 3515 Miskolc, Hungary, Contractor;
  29. Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWA), Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, 20347, Hamburg, Germany, Contractor;
  30. Institute of Ethnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (EU AV CR), N Florenci 3, 110 00, Praha 1, Praha, Czech Republic, Contractor;
  31. Centre for Development Alternatives (CFDA), E-71, Aakash, near Chief Justice's Bungalow, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, India, Contractor.

Contact person: Vanja Stenius

Sito web: http://www.ebos.com.cy/susdiv
Pubblicazioni IPRS: Piazza Vittorio. La trasformazione urbanistica. Quale identità per i nuovi cittadini? , Porta Portese. Il mercato locale, l'immigrazione e la diversità , Esquilino Pigneto. Due sistemi urbani a confronto , Roma multietnica. I cambiamenti nel panorama linguistico