Post by German Association for Peace and Conflict Studies

Welcome to the AFK colloqium 2026 at the university of Leipzig! Simone Wisotzki (AFK), Solveig Richter and Julia Leib (Universität Leipzig), Ulrich Schneckener (DSF) and Samantha Ruppel (AFK) gave an introduction to the conference with the overall topic "Ideas and intersections in peace and conflict studies: the relevance of inter- and transdisciplinary research". The colloqium was opened with a roundtable about "Professional and peace-oriented: potential and thresholds of transdisciplinary cooperation", where researchers, activists and practitioners spoke about values and uncertainties of transdisciplinary cooperation. At the roundtable were Alexander von Wedel (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friedenspädagogik München), Christina Pesch (Landtag NRW), Christoph Weller (Universität Augsburg), Ralf Buchterkirchen (DFG-VK e.V.), Michaela Zöhrer (Hochschule-Rhein-Waal) and Christine Buchwald (Hochschule Rhein-Waal). Afterwards the first 8 parallel Panels took place, for example "From Protest to Power: Civil Resistance and the Transformation of Conflict", "Gaza – The Day After. What can Academia contribute?" or "Boycott and Other Sanctions in Times of War: Politics and Pitfalls (ZEFKO-Panel)". The open discussion event about "When diversity, equality and inclusion are denounced as radical ideology: counter-strategies and reflection within the higher education context and scientific associations" brought up important connections and personal stories about diversity and discrimination.