Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 21 September 2010

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DR. Kamran Mofid has been appointed Adjunct Professor to the Dalhousie School of Business Administration. He will be working with faculty and students to realize the Faculty of Management’s vision to be the acknowledged centre of ‘values-based management’ whose graduates become private sector, public sector and civil society leaders who manage with integrity, focus on sustainability and make things happen.

Below see the announcement by the Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, posted on 10 September 2010 on the Dalhousie School of Business Administration's website:

Faculty of Management News and Events

 Values-based management is focus of newly-appointed professor

Posted on September 10 2010 by Janet Lord in Faculty of Management

"Kamran Mofid, PhD, has been appointed Adjunct Professor to the Dalhousie School of Business Administration. He will be working with faculty and students to realize the Faculty of Management’s vision to be the acknowledged centre of ‘values-based management’ whose graduates become private sector, public sector and civil society leaders who manage with integrity, focus on sustainability and make things happen.

Mofid is the founder of the Globalization for the Common Good Initiative (founded at an international conference in Oxford in 2002), co-founder/editor of the Journal of Globalization for the Common Good and member of the International Coordinating Committee of the World Public Forum, Dialogue of Civilizations. He received his BA and MA in economics from the University of Windsor, Canada, in 1980 and 1982 respectively. In 1986, he was awarded a doctorate in economics from the University of Birmingham, UK. In 2001, he received a Certificate in Education in Pastoral Studies from Plater College, Oxford. From 1980 to 2000, he was Economic Tutor, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Universities of Windsor (Canada), Birmingham, Bristol, Wolverhampton and Coventry (UK).

Mofid’s work is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on economics, business, politics, international relations, theology, culture, ecology, ethics and spirituality. His writings have appeared in leading scholarly journals, popular magazines and newspapers. His books include Development Planning in Iran: From Monarchy to Islamic Republic, The Economic Consequences of the Gulf War, Globalization for the Common Good, Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalization for the Common Good, Promoting the Common Good (with Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke, 2005), and A Non-Violent Path to Conflict Resolution and Peace Building (co-authored, 2008).

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Management, which includes programs in Business, Public Administration, Information Management, Marine Affairs and Resource and Environmental Studies, offers a holistic and values-based approach to management education and research. The Faculty’s vision is to be the acknowledged centre of values-based management whose graduates become private sector, public sector and civil society leaders who manage with integrity, focus on sustainability and make things happen."

Media inquiries: Colin Craig, Faculty of Management, tel. 902.223.3981, colin.craig@dal.ca

Globalisation and Education for the Common Good: A Path to Sustainability, Well-being and Happiness

By Kamran Mofid, Adjunct Professor, Dalhousie School of Business,  Dalhousie University, Canada

Public Lecture Presented at School of Business Administration Dalhousie University Wednesday 3 November 2010

Greetings to you all,

'Believe me I cannot find words adequate enough to tell you how happy I am to be here in Canada once again and especially in my new capacity: Adjunct Professor at one of the oldest and most respected universities, namely, Dalhousie. It is always a very special joy for me to return to Canada. It is to Canada that my wife and I first came all those years ago in the 1970s. It was in Canada that I got my first two degrees in economics. I never forget the joyous day in 1980 that my wife and I became naturalised Canadian Citizens. It is to Canada that many my close relatives came to after the Revolution in Iran. It is in Canada that all have found happiness, joy, success and well-being. To Canada, I own great thanks.

For the opportunity to be here today, I am indebted To the Dean of the Faculty of Management, Prof. Peggy Cunningham. I salute her wisdom and vision and I commend her great work to make the business education to be for the common good. I wish also to thank Prof. Greg Hebb, Director of the Centre for International Business Studies at Dalhousie for all his support and friendship. I thank all my colleagues and students at Dalhousie Business School for all they do, ensuring that the Business Education at Dalhousie is a world leader in values-based education.'...Continue to read

Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 07 September 2010

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A Call for Dialogue of Civilisations and the Common Good on 9/11

Kamran Mofid
Founder, Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI)

9/11 Tuesday, September 11, 2001, New York. Photo: printerest.com

As we approach the 9th anniversary of 9-11, it is truly heart-breaking that nine years after that tragic day and the severe destruction from the consequent wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the undeclared war in Pakistan and elsewhere, new global institutions and structures which fit the needs of the time to address the crises of inequality, injustice and the environment have yet to emerge, even though they are acutely and desperately needed.

Instead, extremists in both the Muslim and Christian worlds, as well as extremists from other religions and many nations, empower one another, preventing meaningful dialogue, understanding and mutual respect, marginalizing voices of reason, moderation, and peace, by fanning the flames of hatred, preying upon fear, while poisoning the political discourse.

It is time to rise from the ashes of destruction by embracing a new vision of hope for the world, a vision that encompasses social justice at the global level, an end to poverty, and a reverence for all the species of the earth. The perpetrators of 9/11 and the purveyors of war have reveled in the fear, the anger, and the mistrust between segments of the human family who belong to different religions, cultures, and civilisations, while those who benefit greatly from the global economic system as it is, use the fear, the mistrust, and the anger to block needed change.

Extremists and economic elites will never be defeated merely by condemning their rhetoric and their actions. Only hope can overcome fear, and only love can conquer hatred. We desperately need a vision of a global human community grounded in respect for the earth and other species, and compassion towards one another. We need to build new global institutions and structures capable of making that vision a reality. Until that happens, the human family will wallow in anger, fear, hate and destruction. We cannot afford such a fate any longer and let us together seek to build a better world. A world abundant in wisdom and grounded in humility.

To build this better world we need a newer vision than the one we currently have. A vision that positions the quest for economic and social justice, peace and ecological sustainability, ethical and corporate social responsibility within the framework of a spiritual consciousness grounded in generosity, sympathy, empathy and the common good. A vision that is inclusive, mindful of the environment and the human connection to nature. In short, a vision that goes beyond the clash of civilisations and instead embraces and embarks on the path of the dialogue of civilisations and the common good.

In these times characterized by the spread of hate, violence, terrorism, wars and xenophobia, the commitment to dialogue among civilizations is a welcome antidote to the looming clash of civilizations and to various forms of hegemonic domination and cultural standardization. The place of civilisations in the contemporary globalised world has become increasingly a matter of sociopolitical and economic debate in this era of globalization. Civilisations are, in fact, a major component of human development. Indeed, the history of humankind can be thought of as the unfolding of interactions and exchanges among civilisations.

The question of the scope and potential of dialogue among cultures and civilisations is achieving unprecedented significance, especially in the present international context. More than ever before, dialogue poses a fundamental challenge and must be based on the unity of humankind and commonly shared values, the recognition of the world’s cultural diversity and the equal dignity of each civilisation, culture and individual.

At the dawn of the third millennium, dialogue of civilisations is confronted by many challenges, particularly the challenge of dialogue between peoples from the Islamic, European, Asian and American civilisations, to name but a few. A further serious challenge is fear of the other, or more aptly the fear of Muslims or what is known today as Islamophobia. We need also to face up to the main cultural challenges of modern times in order to achieve positive results that would give humanity a chance to live in peace, safety, prosperity and harmony.

All peoples of the world, including Arab and Muslim people, must combine their efforts in order to face up to the tough challenges born out of globalisation. Muslims have to immediately close ranks with the West in a fruitful and efficient intellectual and cultural alliance. Through this alliance, they will be able to draw up reference criteria for dealing with one another, provide correct information about Islamic concepts, precepts and teachings that Muslims apply in their daily life not only as a matter of faith, but as the set of unwavering ethics adhered to by all Muslim communities wherever they maybe.

All in all, by bringing the Dialogue of Civilisations and Globalisation for the Common Good together, we can become a bridge of reconciliation, hope and harmony, bringing down the walls of hatred, fear, selfishness, greed, individualism, poverty, deprivation and hopelessness that separate us from dialogue and understanding. Good dialogue needs good globalisation and vice versa.

The better and newer world that we are all trying to build will be our lasting contribution to honor the memory of the victims of 9/11, as well as all other victims of post 9/11 wars and conflicts.

Kamran Mofid,
Founder, Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI)
www.gcgi.info

Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI): Where we connect our intellect with our humanity