York U. Centre for Practical Ethics Examines Morality of Conducting Research in Countries with Poor Human Rights Records

TORONTO, March 13, 2000 -- When western governments suspended aid and condemned Indonesia for the massacre in East Timor last year, international scholars working in the archipelago were also forced to examine the morality of their continued presence there. As with China's 1989 military crackdown on students in Tiananmen Square, academics had to ask themselves whether their work was contributing some good or simply legitimizing a rogue regime. When is it time to cut off academic ties and pull out?

In the final symposium in its series Ethics at the University, The Centre for Practical Ethics at York University will host a panel of experts to discuss International Research Projects and Human Rights: Ethical Considerations on Thursday, March 16 at 1:30 p.m. The panel will explore the contentious issue of what is appropriate behaviour for Canadian universities and professors involved in research and exchanges in countries where there are extensive violations of human rights. Should they refrain entirely from working in such countries, and if not, what constraints should apply?

"The purpose of the meeting is to open up discussion on this subject because there has been a tendency to tip-toe around it," said symposium organizer Peter Penz, Director of the York Centre for Refugee Studies and Professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies. "We have to look at the implications for moral behaviour of dealing with regimes of this kind. The purists advocate no engagement, but I think you have to compare what the project is doing to help victims or the disadvantaged, with the negative effect of legitimating an oppressive regime," said Penz.

Joining Penz on the panel are: Lesley Jacobs, Professor of Law and Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy and in the Division of Social Science; Mitchell Bernard, Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies at York and U. of T.; and Gary J. Smith, York Vice-President (Advancement) and former Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia. Director of the Centre for Practical Ethics, Prof. David Shugarman, will chair the proceedings.

Smith will share his experiences as former ambassador and his knowledge of Canadian university projects in Indonesia that have involved working with agents of change within the country and have helped the move toward democratization. "You have to look at the totality of the situation and determine what concrete actions can be taken, beyond isolating a country, to help effect change," said Smith. He notes that Indonesia is a very different place today than it was just a few years ago, adding that universities and students have been major players in bringing about the collapse of the Suharto regime.

Jacobs, whose book The Democratic Vision of Politics (Prentice Hall, 1997) was published in Chinese last year, supports engagement, but will argue that one must take critical stances on certain issues and cannot remain neutral. Bernard will discuss his research experiences in China and other countries in East Asia where there are human rights violations. He will also address the importance of protecting potential victims in the course of conducting research and the need for the academic profession, rather than the mass media, to shape the discussion about what is appropriate and ethical behaviour in the field of international research.

The symposium will convene in the Senior Common Room 140, McLaughlin College, York University, Keele Campus, 4700 Keele St.

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For further information, please contact:

Prof. David Shugarman
Director, Centre for Practical Ethics
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 77083
(416) 736-5128
dshugar@yorku.ca

Peter Penz
Director, Centre for Refugee Studies
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 66662
ppenz@yorku.ca

Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22091
sbigelow@yorku.ca
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