In recent years scientists have made astounding progress in identifying human genes and their functions - using embryonic tissue to predict physical structure, predisposition to disease, and perhaps personality - and even in manipulating genes so as to change that structure, predisposition and personality.

The cloning of a sheep from adult tissue was only the most dramatic example of this progress, and the extraordinary reactions, which included calls for legislation banning further research into human cloning, demonstrate a strong, if inarticulate, sense that genetic research has seismic implications.

This conference aims to promote better informed debate on these issues beyond purely scientific circles, examining

1. the state of the art in genetic mapping and manipulation, and prospective fresh discoveries and techniques
2. the need for legislation covering research into cloning or other aspects of genetic manipulation, and the use of genetic information for "eugenic" purposes or in setting insurance policies
3. broader questions of culture, such as the effect of genetic developments on our sense of identity or our moral and ethical convictions.

Will genetics turn out to have the impact on our intellectual, religious and moral life that evolution and relativity had? Or even greater impact?

The 21st Century Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of SmithKline Beecham plc for the holding of this conference.

Back to Top    

This conference will examine attempts since the end of the Cold War to move beyond the reduction of armaments levels to the elimination of entire types of weapons.

The focus will be on the new debate over the future of nuclear weapons arising out of the work of the Canberra Commission, but will also look at the problems of the proliferation of other weapons, including land mines and small arms.

Particular issues that will be covered include the political requirements for successful disarmament; the role of advanced weapon systems in increasing or decreasing international security; the practical difficulties in achieving disarmament, such as verification; and the appropriate policies for dealing with rogue states.

Back to Top    

Corruption, an ancient phenomenon defined as the misuse of public power for private profit, has grown alarmingly in recent years.

The old-fashioned view of corruption as endemic to exotic cultures has been overturned by the emergence of major scandals in the developed world; but the main victims are still the less privileged nationals of developing countries.

In collaboration with Transparency International, the international not-for-profit organization dedicated to curbing corruption world-wide, we aim at this conference to examine the problem at both the international and the national level, and to consider how best to promote the adoption of higher standards.

Back to Top    

If the popular reaction to crises in remote parts of the world during the nineteenth century was "Send a gunboat!", it now seems to be "The International Community must act!"

This conference is designed not to question the latter sentiment, but to examine what it means, specifically what the international community is, and what it - or portions of it - can, cannot, or should do in response to conflict and humanitarian crisis.

It will look at constituent parts of the international community (the United Nations, regional bodies, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the media, transnational corporations) and consider in what sense they constitute a "community".

Using recent case studies, we will also examine whether their respective roles could be better defined or coordinated in the different forms of international response to crisis diplomatic action (preventative diplomacy, peace-keeping) military action

Back to Top  

1998 Fellowship Programme
Implementing Human Rights in the 21st Century
(In Conjunction with Wilton Park)

• Wiston House
  
• 26-30 October 1998

Speakers

Summary of all Conferences