Towards a New Research Agenda on Social Power and Human Flourishing

Power with Purpose

February 19–20, 2027

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time)

Hosted on Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/4070074872?pwd=akWDC0Nd1wPk5jnEy89p8FWZvR6O52.1

Passcode: 706783

Hosted by: ISOL Global Foundation

About the Symposium

Social power has long been a foundational concept in psychology, sociology, political science, organizational behavior, and leadership studies. Classical and contemporary theories have significantly advanced our understanding of power, influence, authority, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. Yet the unprecedented challenges of the twenty-first century—including polarization, conflict, loneliness, burnout, ethical uncertainty, and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence—call for a fundamental rethinking of the nature, purpose, and responsible use of power, particularly within organizations.

This international symposium seeks to initiate a new interdisciplinary research agenda that reimagines social power as Power with Purpose—a transformative approach grounded in love, compassion, wisdom, care, ethical responsibility, and human flourishing. Rather than viewing power primarily as a means of influence or control, the symposium invites participants to explore how power relationships in organizations can become catalysts for trust, collaboration, ethical leadership, collective well-being, and sustainable human flourishing.

Bringing together Eastern wisdom traditions and Western scholarship, the symposium provides a global platform for scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners to develop new theoretical, conceptual, empirical, and practical perspectives on social power. Together, we seek to advance a research agenda that reimagines power relationships as forces for individual, organizational, societal, and planetary flourishing.”

Guiding Question

How can power relationships in organizations be reimagined by integrating Eastern wisdom and Western scholarship to move beyond influence and control and foster love, compassion, wisdom, care, ethical leadership, and human flourishing?

Purpose

To catalyze a global interdisciplinary research agenda that reimagines social power and power relationships in organizations as forces for love, compassion, wisdom, care, and ethical leadership through the integration of Eastern wisdom traditions and Western scholarship, advancing human flourishing.

Objectives

The symposium seeks to:

1. Advance a new interdisciplinary research agenda on social power, power relationships, and human flourishing.
2. Revisit and critically examine classical and contemporary theories of social power in organizations and society.
3. Reimagine Power with Purpose as a new paradigm for understanding power relationships, leadership, and organizational transformation.
4. Integrate insights from Eastern wisdom traditions and Western scholarship to develop new perspectives on power and leadership.
5. Examine the role of love, compassion, wisdom, care, and ethical responsibility in shaping power relationships and organizational cultures.
6. Foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration across management, psychology, sociology, philosophy, political science, peace studies, and related disciplines.
7. Build an international community of scholars committed to collaborative research, knowledge creation, and global partnerships.
8. Promote research that advances ethical leadership, organizational transformation, peace, and human flourishing across individuals, organizations, and society.

Research Themes

Theme I — Rethinking Social Power

1. Classical and contemporary theories of social power
2. Power relationships in organizations
3. Influence, authority, and leadership
4. Ethics, responsibility, and the responsible use of power
5. Emerging perspectives on power

Theme II — Power with Purpose

1. Reimagining power through love and compassion
2. Wisdom, care, and ethical responsibility
3. Responsible, conscious, servant, and values-based leadership
4. Stewardship and organizational citizenship
5. Power as a force for individual and collective flourishing

Theme III — Where East Meets West: Power and Leadership

1. Indian Knowledge Systems and organizational leadership
2. Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, African, Indigenous, and Western wisdom traditions
3. Comparative perspectives on power and leadership
4. Cross-cultural dialogue and integrative scholarship
5. East–West approaches to ethical leadership and human flourishing

Theme IV — Power, Leadership, and Human Flourishing

1. Organizational culture and values
2. Meaning, purpose, and flourishing at work
3. Trust, psychological safety, and belonging
4. Compassionate and human-centered organizations
5. Leadership for organizational transformation

Theme V — Power, Peace, and Global Well-Being

1. Dialogue across differences
2. Conflict transformation and reconciliation
3. Peacebuilding and social cohesion
4. Organizations as communities of care
5. Leadership for justice, peace, and global well-being

Theme VI — Shaping the Future Research Agenda

1. Artificial intelligence, ethics, and responsible leadership
2. New paradigms of power and leadership
3. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research
4. Global scholarly partnerships and collaborative research
5. Future directions in social power and human flourishing research

Call for Extended Abstracts

The symposium invites original conceptual, theoretical, empirical, interdisciplinary, and practice-informed contributions that advance understanding of social power, power relationships in organizations, leadership, and human flourishing.

We particularly welcome submissions that critically examine existing theories, propose new conceptual frameworks, integrate Eastern wisdom traditions with Western scholarship, and contribute to the emerging research agenda on Power with Purpose.

Scholars from diverse disciplines are encouraged to submit work that challenges conventional understandings of power and offers innovative perspectives on leadership, organizations, ethics, peace, and human flourishing.

Who Should Participate?

The symposium welcomes scholars, researchers, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and doctoral students.

Format for Extended Abstract Submission

Authors are invited to submit original conceptual, theoretical, empirical, interdisciplinary, or practice-informed extended abstracts aligned with the symposium theme and one of the designated research themes.

The extended abstract should include:

1. Title of the paper
2. Author(s), affiliation(s), and contact information
3. Selected symposium research theme
4. Background and purpose of the study
5. Research question(s) or objective(s)
6. Theoretical or conceptual framework
7. Methodology (where applicable)
8. Key findings (for completed studies) or expected contribution (for work in progress)
9. Theoretical, practical, or societal implications
10. Five keywords

Submission Guidelines

1. Length: 1,000–1,500 words (excluding references)

2. Language: English
3. Formatting: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double-spaced
4. Referencing Style: APA (7th Edition)
5. File Format: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF
6. Submission Email: sunita@isolglobalfoundation.org

Accepted abstracts will be included in the ISOL Global Foundation International Symposium Book of Abstracts.

Areas of Contribution

The symposium welcomes original contributions that advance scholarship on Social Power and Human Flourishing, including but not limited to:

1. Conceptual and Theory-Building Papers
2. Empirical Research (Qualitative, Quantitative, or Mixed Methods)
3. Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Studies
4. Practice-Based Research and Case Studies
5. Systematic, Integrative, and Critical Literature Reviews
6. Philosophical, Ethical, and Wisdom Tradition Perspectives
7. Emerging Ideas, Future Research Agendas, and Innovative Methodological Approaches

Call for Extended Abstracts

The symposium invites original conceptual, theoretical, empirical, interdisciplinary, and practice-informed contributions that advance understanding of social power, power relationships in organizations, leadership, and human flourishing.

We particularly welcome submissions that critically examine existing theories, propose new conceptual frameworks, integrate Eastern wisdom traditions with Western scholarship, and contribute to the emerging research agenda on Power with Purpose.

We especially encourage submissions that challenge conventional understandings of social power and propose innovative theoretical, conceptual, methodological, or practice-based perspectives aligned with the theme of Power with Purpose.

Selected authors may be invited to further develop their work for inclusion in collaborative research initiatives, edited books, journal special issues, and future ISOL Global Foundation scholarly publications.

Important Dates

1. Call for Extended Abstracts Opens: September 15, 2026
2. Submission Deadline: December 1, 2026
3. Notification of Acceptance: December 20, 2026
4. Presenter Confirmation & Registration: January 15, 2027

Expected Outcomes

The symposium seeks to:

1. Establish the ISOL Global Research Network on Social Power and Human Flourishing.
2. Advance the international interdisciplinary research agenda on Power with Purpose.
3. Foster international collaborative and cross-cultural research partnerships.
4. Promote collaborative research projects, edited books, journal special issues, and scholarly publications.
5. Create an ongoing global dialogue on social power, leadership, and human flourishing through ISOL Global Foundation initiatives.
6. Lay a strong scholarly foundation for the 2027 ISOL Global Foundation International Conference on Consciousness, Wholeness, and Human Flourishing.

A Global Invitation

Power has traditionally been understood as the capacity to influence others. Today, the complex challenges facing organizations and societies call for a deeper understanding of power—one that advances not only effectiveness but also human flourishing.

This symposium invites a fundamental question:

Can power relationships in organizations move beyond influence and control to become forces for love, compassion, wisdom, care, ethical leadership, and human flourishing?

ISOL Global Foundation warmly invites scholars, researchers, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and doctoral students from around the world to join this pioneering international dialogue. Together, we seek to shape a new interdisciplinary research agenda on Social Power and Human Flourishing—one that reimagines Power with Purpose for the flourishing of individuals, organizations, communities, and society.

Symposium Organizer and Chair

Sunita Singh Sengupta, Ph.D.Founder and President
ISOL Global Foundation (USA)

Email: Sunita.singhsengupta@isolglobalfoundation.org

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