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Abstract

From March 11 to 13, 2026, the University of Leipzig hosted the colloquium of the German Association for Peace and Conflict Research (AFK). Under the theme “Ideas and Intersections in Peace and Conflict Research: The Relevance of Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research,” the event provided a platform for inter- and transdisciplinary exchange between academia and practice in the field of peace and conflict research.

This year, the colloquium was organized by the AFK Secretariat in collaboration with the University of Leipzig and funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research (DSF). More than 200 people attended the event in Leipzig, including scholars and practitioners from various fields of peace and conflict research. They discussed key questions such as:

• How can interdisciplinary approaches contribute to the understanding and management of peace and conflict, and where, at the same time, do the limits of disciplinary approaches lie?
• Which transdisciplinary research methods, as well as practical or participatory formats, enable successful inter- or transdisciplinary collaboration?
• What role do critical, decolonial, postcolonial, and intersectional perspectives play in peace and conflict research?
• How do technology and the natural sciences contribute to conflict transformation, particularly at the intersections with the social sciences in areas?

The colloquium began with official opening remarks by Dr. Habil. Simone Wisotzki (Chair of the AFK Board), Prof. Dr. Solveig Richter (Professor of International Relations and Transnational Politics, University of Leipzig), and Dr. Julia Leib (University of Leipzig), as well as Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schneckener (Chair of the Board of the German Foundation for Peace Research).

The event kicked off with a roundtable discussion on the topic “Professional and Peace-Oriented: Potential and Thresholds of Transdisciplinary Collaboration.” Moderated by Christine Buchwald (Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences), speakers included Alexander von Wedel (Working Group for Peace Education, Munich), Christina Pesch (research associate at the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia), Christoph Weller (University of Augsburg), and Ralf Buchterkirchen (DFG-VK e.V.) discussed the uncertainties, values, and rationales for action shared among researchers, activists, and practitioners regarding transdisciplinary collaboration. After taking stock of the perceived obstacles, these were categorized, and desired actions and recommendations for future improvements in transdisciplinary collaboration were discussed.

Over the course of three days, the conference explored key issues in peace and conflict research with a focus on current developments through various formats, including fishbowl discussions, panels, and a panel discussion. The focus was on topics such as civil disobedience and conflict transformation, the dissemination of knowledge and research in times of growing skepticism toward democracy and science, the design of research and learning spaces that take marginalized perspectives into account, as well as shifts in norms and global power dynamics.

The main panel discussion centered on the topic “Peace and Security Strategies in Times of Hybrid Threats.” Moderated by Prof. Dr. Solveig Richter (University of Leipzig), with opening remarks by the Rector of the University of Leipzig, Prof. Dr. Eva Inés Obergfell, the discussion featured Tobias Pietz (Lead Climate Security & EU, Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF)), Prof. Dr. Janina Dill (Dame Louise Richardson Chair in International Security / Professor / Co-Director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics of Law and Armed Conflict (ECLAC), University of Oxford), Colonel GS Katharina Benford (Seminar Leader, Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS)), and Ulrich Hörning (Mayor, Department of General Administration, City of Leipzig).

In addition, the AFK’s working groups held meetings to discuss specific topics, including arms control and disarmament, critiques of power, methodology, peace education, and curriculum design and pedagogy. The Young AFK working group also held an open session where early-career researchers had the opportunity to come together.

As a complementary event, a workshop on the topic “Abuse of Power in Academia: From Individual Support to Institutional Change” took place, organized by Anja-Liisa Gonsior (Technical University of Darmstadt) together with experts from fem*ergenz.