This conference aims to explore the ethical challenges and dilemmas of development in island territories, with particular attention on the role organizations play in shaping sustainable responses. Insular territories face unique challenges and vulnerabilities - remoteness, environmental fragility, resource constraints, and persistent social inequalities, etc. - that require ethical reflection on the decisions made by organizations. While diverse development trajectories can be observed, the contribution of organizations to sustainable development remains insufficiently examined.

The implications of ecological, digital, and demographic transitions are of special interest.

Ecological transition challenges include reducing the use of phytosanitary substances to promote safer, healthier, and sustainable agricultural practices, addressing waste management, long-lasting pesticide pollution, sustainable tourism or responsible resource consumption.

Digital transition raises questions related to digital inclusion, the protection and governance of personal data, and the role of new technologies in meeting performance objectives without compromising ethical principles.

Demographic transition raises challenges such as ageing populations, poverty, autonomy and social inclusion, which impose ethical responsibilities on organizations.

The conference aims to address questions such as:

 

1. Foundational Ethical and Social Concepts

-       What is trust? What are the components and the drivers of trust?

-       Can human (or State?) solidarity and organizations’ competitiveness cope altogether for authentic human fulfillment?

 

2. Organizational Ethics and Responsibilities

-       How do organizations respond to performance requirements, corporate responsibility, and ethical considerations?

-       What tensions arise between efficiency, transparency, equity, and accountability?

 

3. Trust, Legitimacy, and Governance

-       How can organizations build and sustain trust in private–public partnerships?

-       What ethical frameworks or governance tools can increase legitimacy and citizen acceptance?

 

4. Sustainable Development and the Common Good

-       How can organizations respond to the challenges of managing environmental resources as a common good?

-       How can sustainable development strategies be implemented in practice?

-       How can organizations (including local authorities) engage communities ethically in the design and implementation of sustainable development projects?

 

5. Insular Territories: Specific Ethical Issues

-       What specific ethical challenges and dilemmas do organizations face or have to address in insular territories?

-       How can ethical governance strengthen adaptation capabilities and resilience in insular territories?

-       What role could organizations, universities, and research institutions play in promoting ethical development in insular contexts?

 

6. AI and organizational ethics

-       How can ethical governance frameworks for AI be designed and implemented within organizations?

-       To what extent do algorithmic systems reproduce or mitigate bias, and how do they affect organizational justice and inclusion?

-       How does the use of AI in organizations affect work, human dignity, and sustainable development?

-       How do institutional and cultural contexts, particularly in developing countries, shape the ethical challenges and uses of AI in organizations?

 

7. Religions, spirituality and ethics in modern organizations

-       How do religious traditions and spiritual beliefs shape ethical values, norms, and behaviors in modern organizations?

-       How do organizations manage religious and spiritual diversity while maintaining ethical coherence and inclusiveness?

-       To what extent can spirituality at work contribute to ethical leadership, employee well-being, and organizational legitimacy?

-       How do institutional, cultural, and societal contexts affect the expression of religion and spirituality in organizational ethics?

 

Drawing on an interdisciplinary perspective (e.g., Development studies, business, economics, ethics / philosophy, policy studies, environmental studies, political science, law, sociology, etc.), the event will examine how private, public, and community organizations can contribute to sustainable development while balancing economic viability, environmental care, and social responsibility.

 

Participants will discuss organizational practices, governance models, responsible innovation and resource management, stakeholder engagement, and ethical decision-making as applied within insular or isolated ecosystems. By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, the conference will question dominant development paradigms, and highlight context-specific challenges related to ethical organizational practices. It seeks to advance understanding of how organizations can ethically support resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development in island or isolated territories.