Dis·par·i·ty: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “a noticeable and usually significant difference or dissimilarity”; first used in 1571, the word, borrowed from Latin, combines dis- with the concept of parity, implying that some things are not equal. Disparity: a thin line that divides human realities, and the theme of the 2023 Pearson Global Forum, the flagship annual event put on by The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts at the Harris School of Public Policy.
“We see issues of disparity in all global conflicts,” said Sheila Kohanteb, the Forum’s Executive Director. “Often people are not aware of how disparities play out on a day-to-day level in their own communities, let alone on a global scale. At the Forum, we want to call attention to specific global disparities, and perhaps this will encourage people to reflect on how this relates to their local communities.”
“Inequality of income is but one aspect of disparity and is part of an intersecting set of differences in society which relate to power and status,” said James A. Robinson, the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflicts and Institute Director for The Pearson Institute. “We thought that the larger topic of disparity might be sociologically very rich and would perhaps suggest new ideas and connections.”
The Pearson Global Forum, held on October 20, will bring together academics, political leaders, policymakers, journalists, and members of the general public – and will examine the ripple effects at the intersection of disparity and global conflict, and ways to find resolution, peace, and stability for those affected. Participants at this year’s Global Forum will discuss not just disparities in economics and power, but also disparities in gender, justice, religion, technology, housing, and distribution of natural resources.
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This story was first published by Harris School of Public Policy.
