Peace research in Marburg: Lecture series on conflicts starts in May!

Peace research in Marburg: Lecture series on conflicts starts in May!

On Monday, May 19, 2025, the lecture series “Conflicts in the Present and Future” starts in the summer semester of 2025 at the Philipps University of Marburg. This traditional series has existed for more than 20 years and highlights current topics in peace research and the role of science in politics. Thanks to the cooperation between the university's Center for Conflict Research and the university city of Marburg, interested parties are offered a platform to think about crucial social questions.

The opening lecture will be given by Dr. Thania Paffenholz, an expert in inclusive peace processes, and is entitled “What can and what should peace research?” The venue is the historic town hall, Markt 1 in Marburg. All events start at 6:30 p.m. The lecture series also covers topics such as war and peace, social movements as well as the climate crisis and its social consequences.

A diverse program

The program for the summer semester 2025 offers a varied range of other lectures:

• 02.06.2025: Ornella Gessler und Johannes Maaser behandeln das Thema kommunale Konflikte.
• 11.06.2025: Runder Tisch mit Dr. Raghdan Baroudi, Erika Dorn und Kirsten Dinnebier.
• 30.06.2025: PD Dr. Fritz Reusswig über Klima- und Mobilitätswende.
• 14.07.2025: Dr. med. Barbara Wolff informiert zur psychosozialen Versorgung von Geflüchteten.

Particularly noteworthy is a round table that will take place on June 11, 2025 at the Richtsberg comprehensive school, Karlsbader Weg 3. These formats are not only informative, but also crucial for promoting dialogue about social developments.

Conflicts at the local level

The lecture series reflects the increasing crises and social changes that lead to uncertainty and conflict, often experienced at the local level. Actors from civil society, politics and administration are faced with the challenge of overcoming these conflicts. Effective municipal conflict counseling can support this and strengthen peace logic approaches. This advice not only promotes participation, but also strengthens cooperation between civil society and the state.

The importance of municipal conflict management is growing, as unprocessed conflicts can quickly spiral into escalation. The systemic approach to conflict counseling, which is divided into seven steps, helps to address local challenges in a structured manner. The process includes critical reflections on social power relations and takes into account the perspectives of marginalized groups in order to develop constructive solutions.

Friedrich Glasl has described that when conflicts escalate to an advanced stage, external interventions may be necessary. In contrast, peace-based conflict management utilizes the opportunities for development of conflicts. Recognizing the need for such advice at an early stage is crucial in order to initiate positive change processes.

Outlook for further events

And while the lecture series in Marburg continues its important work, the Peace Summer School will take place in Augsburg in July 2024. This event enables participants to exchange ideas about democratic processes and social conflicts and to relate different perspectives to one another. Such events are often an opportunity for a deeper examination of current challenges and solutions in the field of conflict research.

The lecture series and summer school are part of a comprehensive approach to addressing complex social issues and strengthening a peaceful and inclusive society. Dialogue about peace and conflict is more important today than ever.

A detailed program and further information can be found on the respective websites Philipps University of Marburg, Science and Peace and University of Augsburg available.