Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt, Chair of European and Global Governance, Technical University Munich
• Prof. Abraham L. Newman, PhD, Director of the BMW Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University
• PD Dr. Andreas Kruck, Senior Researcher, Chair for Global Governance and Public Policy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich

Hosted by Prof. Dr. Jana Hönke, Chair for Sociology in Africa & Project leader of Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions, University of Bayreuth

Organized by FoKS (Bayerische Wissenschaftsallianz für Friedens-, Konflikt- und Sicherheitsforschung),

Video ©Amerikahaus Munich
Cut by Niclas Boenki, Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions research network (with support from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, BMFTR)

Der Beitrag Recap video – How to Defuse Interdependence Without Blowing Up the Liberal World Order? (MSC2026) erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

The Assembly addressed current shifts in security and defence policy – particularly those resulting from Russia’s war against Ukraine and the retreat of the United States from multilateral institutions – and discussed how to provide effective policy advice in this changing context. New research initiatives within the FoKS clusters were also launched.

A special highlight was the FoKS side event, held for the first time at the Amerikahaus as an official MSC venue. The panel discussion “Defuse it or lose it: How to defuse interdependence without blowing up the liberal world order,” featuring among others Prof. Abraham L. Newman (Georgetown University), was moderated by Jana Hönke from our network.

Der Beitrag Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions at the FoKS Fellow Assembly & MSC 2026 erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

At the heart of the retreat, participants explored current developments in peace and conflict studies and illustrated their own research within three thematic areas: Contested Hierarchies & Knowledge, Violence and Conflict Transformation in Times of Transition, and Infrastructures and Planetary Future.

The retreat concluded with a dedicated planning session aimed at charting future network activities, brainstorming ideas for public outreach, and laying the groundwork for a research center within the structure of the University of Bayreuth.

The workshop was organized by Jan Sändig, along with Julia Eichenberg and Joschka Philipps.

We would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) for funding the Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions research network, which made this workshop possible.

Der Beitrag Retreat of the UBT Peace and Conflict Research Network erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

The project explored the period of upheaval in Bavaria following the First World War, financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as part of the consortium Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

Read more on the exhibition, which will be available as a virtual toor online soon, in a recent article in the Bayreuth university magazine UBT Aktuell.

Der Beitrag ‘From the university to the museum’ (University magazine UBTaktuell) erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

Transfer ist kein linearer Prozess, der bei wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen beginnt und dann unidirektionale Wissensverteilung über die Grenzen des Wissenschaftssystems hinaus betreibt, sondern ein wechselseitiger Austausch mit vielen Facetten. Dies war der Grundtenor des Abschluss-Workshops des vom BMFTR geförderten „Bayerischen Zentrums für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung: Deutungskämpfe im Übergang“ (BZeFK), in dessen Mittelpunkt die vielfältigen Erfahrungen, aber auch Herausforderungen und Zukunftsperspektiven des Transfers im Bereich der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung standen. Rund 30 Praktiker:innen, Wissenschaftler:innen und Politiker:innen diskutierten über die Zusammenarbeit von Transferbeteiligten, über geeignete Formate und Institutionen, um wissenschaftliche Expertise für die Gesellschaft relevant und verfügbar zu machen. Konkrete Impulse dafür lieferte unter anderem eine Keynote von Prof. Dr. Sebastian Büttner (Transfer Unit Wissenschaftskommunikation der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften), in der er den Transferbegriff aus der Perspektive der Wissenschaftsforschung beleuchtete.

Bereits im ersten Panel des Workshops wurde deutlich, dass Transfer keine Einbahnstraße ist. Dort formulierten Vertreter:innen aus Politik und zivilgesellschaftlicher Praxis zentrale Erwartungen an die Wissenschaft und den Transfer. Eine Teilnehmerin aus der Praxis brachte es in Richtung der anwesenden Wissenschaftler:innen so auf den Punkt: „Ohne uns wärt ihr aufgeschmissen.” Denn aus der Praxisperspektive setzt erfolgreicher Transfer voraus, dass die Wissenschaft weiß, welche Bedarfe vor Ort bestehen, wie Wissen aufbereitet werden muss und welche Formen des Austauschs wirklich produktiv sind.

Wie vielfältig Transfer dabei sein kann, zeigten die Beispielprojekte aus dem Forschungsverbund BZeFK selbst: Vorgestellt wurden künstlerische Interventionen zur Erinnerungskultur sowie eine gemeinsam mit Studierenden konzipierte Ausstellung. Gerade dort, wo experimentiert wurde, entstanden produktive Spannungen und neue Formen der Kooperation und des Transfers. Daran anschließend verdeutlichte der Roundtable zu Deutungskämpfen, dass Transfer immer auch mit Auseinandersetzungen um Bedeutung und gesellschaftliche Relevanz des Wissens einhergeht – und somit selbst Teil jener Konflikte ist, die in der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung untersucht werden.

Auch die institutionelle Ebene spielt für den Transfer eine zentrale Rolle: Vertreter:innen der Friedensakademie Rheinland-Pfalz, der Bayerischen Wissenschaftsallianz für Friedens-, Konflikt- und Sicherheitsforschung, des Transferzentrums Frieden Augsburg sowie der Forschungsverbünde TraCe und BZeFK berichteten, welche Transferstrukturen etabliert werden konnten, um mit spezifischem Wissen bestimmte Praxisfelder zu erreichen.

Die Auseinandersetzung mit Transfer blieb jedoch nicht bei Praxisbeispielen stehen. Begrenzte Ressourcen, unterschiedliche Logiken von Wissenschaft und Praxis sowie der Wunsch nach messbarer Wirkung stellen zentrale Herausforderungen dar. Gerade dort, wo unterschiedliche Perspektiven aufeinandertrafen, entstanden dabei die lebendigsten Diskussionen – jenseits der oft gezogenen Grenze zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis: Ist die wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung mit Frieden und Konflikten ohne Transfer überhaupt denkbar? Welche normativen Positionierungen sind mit Transfer verbunden? Und wie stark sind die jeweiligen Perspektiven disziplinär geprägt?

Der Workshop endete bewusst offen mit einem Panel zu Fragestellungen, Themen und Ideen für zukünftige Kooperationen und zu weiteren Formaten des Austauschs. So gingen die Teilnehmer:innen mit neuen Fragen, aber auch neuen Erkenntnissen und der Aussicht auf mehr Transfer auseinander. Für die nächsten Koordinations-Schritte steht der Arbeitskreis „ Wissenschaft und Praxis“ der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (AFK) zur Verfügung.

Der Beitrag wurde erstellt von unseren Verbundkolleg*innen am Lehrstuhl für Politikwissenschaft, Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (Universität Augsburg); Fotos von Jan Sändig.

Der Beitrag Retrospect – BZeFK workshop: Transfer begins in practice erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

As part of the research network “Bavarian Center for Peace and Conflict Research: Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions” (BZeFK), 16 young researchers met this year to discuss eleven doctoral projects and exchange experiences. The three-day workshop was held in English at the Augsburg Youth Hostel, with the participation of postdocs from the BZeFK research network. Together, they discussed doctoral projects on a variety of topics in interdisciplinary peace and conflict research – in addition to political science and sociology, projects from the fields of history, psychology, and mathematics were also discussed.

The workshop is primarily a forum for discussing and developing individual doctoral projects, but it also provides an opportunity for collegial networking and the exchange of experiences among peace and conflict researchers in Bavaria and beyond. The series of “Workshops for Doctoral Students in Peace and Conflict Studies in Bavaria” was financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).

As in previous years, the workshop was very well received by the participants, who particularly appreciated the feedback provided in an appreciative and constructively critical discussion atmosphere. Details on the (didactic) concept of the workshop series can be found in a blog article on “Lehrgut. A blog for teachers of peace and conflict studies”, written by Michaela Zöhrer, who organized the workshops.

Der Beitrag Recap – 3rd Workshop for Doctoral Students in Peace and Conflict Studies in Bavaria erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

Around 40 interested citizens listened to the lecture, in which Hanna Israel impressively demonstrated the potential of personal one-to-one conversations between divergent voices. As the former head of the international dialog platform My Country Talks (2020-2024), she gave insights into the innovative project that brings people with opposing views together – “Tinder for politics”, as she herself puts it. The aim: to break down prejudices and bridge political divides.

In her lecture, she presented, among other things, scientific findings that show how direct conversations can reduce affective polarization. It also became clear how important constructive journalism is, which does not focus on exaggeration but on solution-oriented reporting – for example in the context of conflicts such as in Gaza or Ukraine.

The subsequent discussion, moderated by Prof. Dr. Jana Hönke (member of the research association Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions), enabled a lively debate on the topic. Participants took the opportunity to ask questions and contribute their own perspectives – critical voices were also heard.

With events like this, the Bayreuth Peace Talks continue to contribute to strengthening social dialog and give an important voice to the topics of peace and conflict research in Bavaria.

Listen to the event recording (in German) here:

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All news, events and projects from the network can be found here.

Der Beitrag Event recap: Bayreuth Peace Talks – Political polarization and the power of dialogue erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

The evening began with a lecture by Dr. Alexander Korb from the Memorium Nürnberger Prozesse, in which he presented new perspectives on the study of Bavarian judicial history in the 20th century. In the subsequent discussion, moderated by PD Dr. Julia Eichenberg, the interaction between microhistorical approaches and macrohistorical developments was explored. The conversation highlighted the insights that can be gained from this connection for understanding the early postwar period.

Afterwards, visitors once again had the opportunity to engage in conversation with the students who played a key role in the conception and implementation of the exhibition. In personal guided tours, they provided in-depth insights into the creation, thematic focus, and design decisions behind the exhibition. Already at the opening, the students had presented their work to interested guests and were available for questions and discussions.

For more information on current and upcoming events organized by our network, click here.

Photo credit: Tom Zimmermann / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Der Beitrag Closing event special exhibition – Leben im Umbruch. Bayern 1918-1925. Zwischen Demokratie, Selbstbestimmung und Gewalt. erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

Regional Shifts and the Aftermath of the Gaza War

On 13 May 2025, Prof. Chatterjee delivered a public lecture as part of the Bayreuth Peace Talks series. Titled Exit Wounds – Aftershocks of the Gaza Conflict in Levantine Middle East, the talk focused on the long-term consequences of the Gaza war that began in October 2023. He thoroughly analyzed the shifting dynamics involving Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Israel, while also highlighting the growing uncertainties across the region.

Although some commentators expressed cautious optimism about renewed stability, Chatterjee urged for restraint. According to him, the conflict had left behind numerous “exit wounds” — unresolved issues with the potential to ignite further unrest. Among these are Syria’s stalled reconstruction, Lebanon’s political deadlock, Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, and the fragile nature of nuclear negotiations with Iran. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. Paula Schrode, which allowed for direct and enriching interaction with the audience.

Workshop on Conflict, Language, and Political Ideology with Chatterjee

On 15 May, Prof. Chatterjee joined PhD candidates and postdocs for an engaging workshop titled Language, Ideology, and the Dynamics of Conflict: Unpacking Political Behaviour. Together, they explored how language shapes conflict and influences political behavior across various contexts.

Throughout the day, participants presented their ongoing research projects, received constructive feedback, and discussed a wide range of empirical and theoretical challenges. Moreover, the small-group format fostered an open and informal environment that encouraged candid dialogue. As a result, participants walked away with valuable insights, new perspectives, and meaningful academic connections.

We sincerely thank Prof. Kingshuk Chatterjee for sharing his knowledge on conflict, language and the Middle East. Likewise, we appreciate all participants for their active engagement and thoughtful contributions.

Der Beitrag Recap: Kingshuk Chatterjee’s insights on Conflict, Language, and the Middle East erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

As part of the colloquium of the German Association for Peace and Conflict Studies, AFK-Colloquium 2025, re­presentatives of aca­demia and re­search funding dis­cussed the future of peace and conflict studies in Lan­dau, on March 20. The event was or­ganized in cooperation with the net­works Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions, TraCe, and VesPoTec, which are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the funding line ‘Streng­thening Peace and Conflict Research’.

Dr. Tho­mas Held (German Foundation for Peace Research), Prof. Dr. Jana Hönke (Uni­versity of Bayreuth), Dr. Christina Norwig (BMBF) and Prof. Dr. Jonas Wolff (PRIF) spoke on the panel. The dis­cussion was mo­derated by Madita Standke-Erdmann (King’s College London/PRIF).

All panelists agreed that peace and conflict re­search is indis­pensable, espe­cially in times of crisis. At the same time, it needs struc­tural and long-term support in order to re­main effective.

Jonas Wolff ex­plained how the TraCe re­search center was able to adapt its a­genda over the course of the pro­ject – for example, by placing a stronger fo­cus on inter­state wars and new trans­fer formats: “The thematically broad struc­tural funding gave us the flexibility to react to poli­tical developments – that is a great ad­vantage.”

In this regard, Jana Hönke pointed out how re­search in the Bavarian BMBF network Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions uses contem­porary perspec­tives on history to under­stand current up­heavals. She also empha­sized that peace re­search must always be more than just security policy: “We need spa­ces to publicly nego­tiate complex relation­ships of vio­lence – locally, histo­rically informed and criti­cally.” She referred to inno­vative formats such as the Bayreuth Peace Talks and the online encyclo­paedia Rewriting Peace and Conflict (created as part of the “Post­colonial Hierar­chies in Peace and Conflict” network, which is also fun­ded by the BMBF), which make aca­demic findings on hierar­chies, memory culture and colonial conti­nuities accessible to a broader public.

Both Hönke and Wolff called for better pros­pects for early career re­searchers and fun­ding that ensures di­versity, critical app­roaches and long-term cooperation.

Thomas Held (DSF) emphasized the role of the German Foundation for Peace Research as an open-topic initiator, but at the same time pointed out the limits of project-based funding logic: “Without long-term positions and secure infra­structures, the knowledge built up can quickly be lost again.”

Christina Norwig (BMBF) underlined the impor­tance of the current funding line to strengthen peace and conflict research, which is based on the recommendations of the German Science and Humanities Council and aims to facilitate interdisciplinary networking, internationalization and sustainable structures. She expressed her gratitude for the diverse impulses from the community for the further development of research funding.

In the discussion, among other things, contributions from the audience critically addressed the fact that some smaller lo­cations and established, nation­wide structures such as the AFK or ZeFKo have so far re­ceived too little fun­ding and that there is a risk that the peace orien­tation of research will in­creasingly give way to security policy issues.

The panel showed that strong, diverse and publicly present peace and conflict research needs political backing – and structural reliability.

Source: This event report was kindly provided by our colleagues from the TraCe network and was first published on the TraCe website.

Der Beitrag Science Policy Roundtable at the AFK Colloquium erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.