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10 Years Since the Signing of the Peace Agreement between the FARC-EP and the Colombian State
In 2016, the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP), the oldest guerrilla movement in the Western Hemisphere, was signed. The four-year negotiation process culminated in the signing of a six-point agreement covering issues ranging from the end of the conflict to agrarian reform, political participation, and the country’s policy on illegal drugs.
The negotiation process and the implementation of the agreement led to the introduction of a new system of transitional justice that is regarded as a model worldwide. The implementation of the agreement brought with it numerous insights, but also challenges. Ten years after its signing, new forms of violence have emerged, and additional actors have entered the scene. In addition, a wide range of political discussions have influenced the implementation process and, consequently, the establishment of a stable and lasting peace.
Annual Conference of the North Rhine-Westphalia Network for Peace and Conflict Research (14.09.2026)
The Annual Conference of the North Rhine-Westphalia Network for Peace and Conflict Research will take place at the University of Bonn.
Under the theme "NRW: Between Rearmament and Internal Peace", the conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss current challenges in peace and conflict research and explore perspectives for peace, security, and social cohesion. The event also gives an opportunity to peace and conflict scholars across NRW to connect and exchange thoughts on current research and emerging challenges.
Job Vacancies: 12 Research Associates
The DFG Research Training Group 3125, ‘Reconciliation and its Equivalents in a Transcultural Comparison’ is looking to fill the following position from February 1, 2027 on, a fixed-term contract until January 31, 2031 in accordance with § 2 (1) WissZeitVG
12 Research Associates (65%)
The DFG Research Training Group 3125, ‘Reconciliation and its Equivalents in a Transcultural Comparison’, aims to investigate concepts, strategies and practices of conflict transformation from an interdisciplinary and transcultural perspective, employing both synchronic and diachronic comparative analysis. Further information can be found here.
Symposium „Reconciliation, Reclamation, Resurgence“
On July 8 and 9, the symposium “Reconciliation, Reclamation, Resurgence” of the DFG network The Cultural Politics of Reconciliation took place. During the two-day program, researchers from Germany, Europe and North America came together to discuss the (im)possibilities of reconciliation and its alternatives in North America. BCRS members Katharina Fackler, coordinator of the network, Rosario Figari Layus and Ann-Sophie Vornholz contributed presentations of their current research.
Follow-up Report: “Reconciliation — A Utopia? Art and Science in Dialogue”
As part of the event series “Reconciliation—A Utopia?”, political scientist Grit Straßenberger was a guest in the foyer of the Schauspielhaus Bonn on June 10, 2026. There, she presented her biography of the philosopher and political thinker Hannah Arendt, published in 2025. The event was part of a collaboration between the Theater Bonn and the Bonn Center for Reconciliation Research and was dedicated to one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century
Follow-up Report: Workshop “Compensation as a Guiding Principle of Peace and Reconciliation Processes”
On 8 June 2026, scholars gathered during the University of Bonn’s Heritage Week to discuss the diverse roles of compensation and reparations in historical and contemporary peace and reconciliation processes. Co-organized with the Center for Historical Peace Research, the workshop brought together perspectives from history, cultural studies, and the social sciences.
DFG Approves Research Training Group “Reconciliation and Its Equivalents in Transcultural Comparison”
We are pleased to announce the approval of the new DFG Research Training Group “Reconciliation and Its Equivalents in Transcultural Comparison” (GRK 3125). Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Christine Krüger, an interdisciplinary research and training program will be established in the coming years that focuses on the study of reconciliation in various cultural contexts.
The Thinker Hannah Arendt and Her Century
Hannah Arendt is regarded as one of the most significant thinkers of the 20th century. Her life and work reflect the major upheavals of her time: totalitarianism, exile, loss, and new beginnings. But Arendt did not merely want to bear witness—she wanted to understand.
Grit Straßenberger presents her biography of Hannah Arendt, published in 2025. In it, she paints a vivid and personal portrait of the philosopher that goes far beyond her well-known writings. Through the recollections of friends, colleagues, and students, Arendt emerges as an extraordinary thinker and, at the same time, a “master of friendship”—a woman whose ideas continue to inspire us today.
Follow-up Report: “Reconciliation—a Utopia?” “The Right to irreconcilability”— Is It Simply a Given?
As part of the series “Reconciliation—a Utopia?”, literary and social scientist Jan Philipp Reemtsma explored the question of a “right to irreconcilability.” The lecture encouraged a nuanced examination of the limits of reconciliation, the prerequisites for social coexistence, and how to deal with ongoing conflicts. We thank all guests for the stimulating discussions and the lively exchange between academia and the public.
Follow-up Report: “Reconciliation—a Utopia?” (Ir)reconciliability Between East and West Germany
As part of the series "RECONCILIATION – A UTOPIA?", author Lukas Rietzschel was a guest at the Schauspielhaus Bad Godesberg. Together with democracy researcher Hans Vorländer (TU Dresden), he discussed a highly topical issue: the (ir)reconciliability between East and West Germany.
Based on an excerpt from Rietzschel’s latest novel, Sanditz, the discussion focused on issues of belonging, labels, and mutual misunderstandings—but also on stereotypes, the recognition of diversity, and the rise of the AfD in Germany. The central question was: Is “reconciliation” even necessary—or is acceptance what is needed to be able to reach out to one another again?
Report on the Berlin Field Trip, May 2026
As part of the seminar „Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung im öffentlichen Raum: Gerechtigkeit, Erinnerung und Versöhnung im internationalen Vergleich“ led by Jun.-Prof. Rosario Figari Layus, the students took part in a two-day field trip to Berlin. The focus was on various memorial sites and remembrance initiatives that primarily address Germany’s colonial history, a topic that is often overlooked.
The Center for Reconciliation Studies has moved
The center has moved and is now located in new premises at Lennéstraße 25, 53113 Bonn.
New Publication: Images of War Captivity from 1870 to the Present
We are pleased to announce the publication of the anthology "Images of War Captivity from 1870 to the Present"Edited by Esther Gardei, Marion Gymnich, Charlie Schwall und Hans-Georg Soeffner
Discussion: Can forests have rights?
The GHL seminar series continues on Thursday, April 30th with a Panel Discussion bringing together Matthias Kramm, Jenny García Ruales, Alejandro Mora Motta, Clément Roux and Rosario Figari Layús for a conversation on: Can forests have rights? Forests, indigenous meanings, and the sociocultural implications of the “rights of nature”.
30.04.2026
16:00-18:00
Global Heritage Lab / P26, Bonn
New publication: „Geschlechterzuschreibungen der (Un-)Versöhnlichkeit“
We are pleased to announce the publication of the anthology „Geschlechterzuschreibungen der (Un-)Versöhnlichkeit“, edited by Christine G. Krüger and Victoria Fischer.
German Colonialism and its First Genocide
On 11 March 2026, scholars and experts gathered in Bonn to discuss the historical and political dimensions of German colonialism and the genocide against the Herero and Nama in Namibia.
First Colloquium on Peace, Conflict and Reconciliation Studies
On 29 January 2026, the Bonn Centre for Reconciliation Studies (BCRS), in cooperation with the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), hosted the First Colloquium on Peace, Conflict and Reconciliation Studies in Bonn. The event was jointly organised by Rosario Figari-Layús (BCRS) and Conrad Schetter (BICC).
Panel discussion “Between Remembrance and a New Beginning"
On January 20, 2026, the third panel discussion, “Between Remembrance and a New Beginning – Reconciliation and Transitional Justice in Post-Conflict Contexts” took place at the University of Bonn. The event marked the conclusion of our panel discussion series, which addressed current challenges in reconciliation processes in various regions of the world.
Event Recap: “Reconciliation – A Utopia? Art and Science in Dialogue”
On January 13, 2026, the Theater Bonn hosted the event “Reconciliation – a utopia? Art and science in dialogue”. In an interdisciplinary dialogue, the tension between reconciliation, memory, and social responsibility was reflected upon.
Call for Papers: Special Issue of Peace Review Between Co-existence and Reconciliation
Rosario Figari Layus, Conrad Schetter and Esther Gardei are preparing a special issue of Peace Review. Researchers are welcome to submit contributions for a special issue that investigates localexperiences of peaceful coexistence and collaborative relations emerging within contexts of ongoing violence – so-called “islands of peace.”
The issue aims to address questions such as: What factors enable the creation and endurance of these initiatives and spaces? Who are the principal actors involved, and how do they navigate the complexities of protracted conflict? What challenges do they face in sustaining and safeguarding these fragile environments of peaceful interaction? Submissions from scholars in the social sciences and humanities are welcome.
The deadline for submissions is 30 April 2026.
IX. Tagung des deutschsprachigen Netzwerks für Versöhnungsforschung
Am 28. und 29. November 2025 fand in Bonn die IX. Tagung des deutschsprachigen Netzwerks für Versöhnungsforschung statt – zwei intensive Tage voller interdisziplinärer Impulse, internationaler Perspektiven und bereichernder Diskussionen.
Die Veranstaltung wurde in Kooperation mit dem Jena Center for Reconciliation StudiesJena Center for Reconciliation Studies (JCRS) durchgeführt.
Call for Papers: Edited Volume: Activism in Exile - Reimagining Agency and Protection in an Era of Crisis
This edited volume has two motivations. First, a growing awareness that multiple contemporary crises — populism, conflicts, shrinking civic space, climate change, austerity — are combining to push more and more human rights defenders and activists into exile. Second, the volume emerges from a specific research project. The project is a collaboration between the Centre for Reconciliation Studies, University of Bonn (Germany), and the UNESCO Chair, Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space at the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York (UK), funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, and titled "Activists in Exile in an Era of Mass Displacement: Universities as Sites of Protection and Supporters of Agency for Activists from Russia and Myanmar". The research has a particular focus on Russian activists in exile in the Czech Republic and Myanmar activists in exile in Thailand.
Die erfolgreiche Veranstaltungsreihe wird fortgesetzt
Kriege auf der ganzen Welt machen Versöhnung zum relevantesten Thema unserer Zeit. Aber keiner weiß, was Versöhnung eigentlich ist. Meint Versöhnung ein rein theologisches Konzept? Oder die Anerkennung unterschiedlicher Perspektiven? Wie geht Versöhnung eigentlich theoretisch und was sind Erfahrungen aus der Praxis? Oder alles nur Theater?
Das Theater Bonn und das Bonner Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung der Universität Bonn holen die Versöhnung auf die Bühne und bringen in der Gesprächsreihe VERSÖHNUNG – EINE UTOPIE? Kunst und Wissenschaft zusammen. Dozenten, Dozentinnen und Assoziierte des Zentrums für Versöhnungsforschungen geben in regelmäßigen Abständen einen Einblick in ihre Forschungsfelder.Schauspielerinnen und Schauspieler des Ensembles begleiten die Vorträge mit literarischen und szenischen Beiträgen.
Der Voltaire-Preis geht an die Soziologin Rosario Figari Layús
Die aus Argentinien stammende Soziologin Prof. Dr. Rosario Figari Layús, Sprecherin des Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung der Universität Bonn, erhält in diesem Jahr den „Voltaire-Preis für Toleranz, Völkerverständigung und Respekt vor Differenz“.
Mit dieser Auszeichnung ehrt die Universität Potsdam bereits zum neunten Mal eine Persönlichkeit aus der Wissenschaft, die sich in besonderer Weise für den gesellschaftlichen Dialog, die Freiheit von Forschung und Lehre sowie für das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung einsetzt. Der von der Friede Springer Stiftung finanzierte und mit 5.000 Euro dotierte Preis wurde jetzt im festlichen Rahmen des Neujahrsempfangs der Universität Potsdam auf dem Campus Griebnitzsee übergeben.
Prof. Dr. Rosario Figari Layús widmet ihre Forschung und ihr gesellschaftliches Engagement der Verteidigung der Menschenrechte, der wissenschaftlichen Aufklärung und der Förderung von Gerechtigkeit und Frieden, besonders in Lateinamerika. Dort hat sie in Kontexten extremer Gewalt und Diskriminierung geforscht und gleichzeitig unermüdlich daran gearbeitet, den Stimmen der Opfer Gehör zu verschaffen und deren Rechte zu verteidigen.
Eine Veranstaltung des BZV in Kooperation mit dem Theater Bonn
Am Tag des Gedenkens an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus, standen am 27. Januar 2025 die Texte bekannter, aber auch vergessener Autoren im Zentrum. Esther Gardei, wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin des BZV, und Studierende aus einem Seminar zur Exilforschung werden Originalquellen und selbst verfasste Texte vorlesen und kontrafaktische Fragestellungen nach den Verbindungen zur Gegenwart diskutieren.
Neuer Vorstand ist gewählt
Am 22. Januar 2025 wurde der Vorstand des Zentrums durch die Gründungsmitglieder neu gewählt. Frau Jr. Prof. Rosario Figari-Layus wurde zur Sprecherin des Zentrums gewählt. Frau Prof. Dr. Christine Krüger und Prof. Dr. Stephan Conermann sind als stellvertretende Vorstandsmitglieder wiedergewählt worden. Herr Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Soeffner bleibt ebenfalls im Vorstand aktiv.
Versöhnung - eine Utopie?
Kriege auf der ganzen Welt machen Versöhnung zum relevantesten Thema unserer Zeit. Aber keiner weiß, was Versöhnung eigentlich ist. Meint Versöhnung ein rein theologisches Konzept? Oder die Anerkennung unterschiedlicher Perspektiven? Wie geht Versöhnung eigentlich theoretisch und was sind Erfahrungen aus der Praxis? Oder alles nur Theater?
Das Theater Bonn und das Bonner Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung der Universität Bonn holen die Versöhnung auf die Bühne und bringen in der Gesprächsreihe VERSÖHNUNG – EINE UTOPIE? Kunst und Wissenschaft zusammen. Dozenten, Dozentinnen und Assoziierte des Zentrums für Versöhnungsforschungen geben in regelmäßigen Abständen einen Einblick in ihre Forschungsfelder.Schauspielerinnen und Schauspieler des Ensembles begleiten die Vorträge mit literarischen und szenischen Beiträgen.
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Open Call
Open Call: Congress of Young Researchers
On December 18 and 19, the Congress of Young Researchers: Debates on Peacebuilding and Social Reconciliation: Lessons from Colombia for Global Contexts will be held at the universities of Cologne and Bonn, Germany.
If you are a PhD student and your research interests are related to: security and human rights, gender, memory studies, territorial peace and natural resources, or transitional justice send your application until October 20. You may send it in Spanish or English.
Requirements:
Abstract: Max. 2500 words.Short Biography.Upload these documents and fill in the required information in the following form: https://forms.gle/41Zp98NWqwv923fm8
15 students will be selected and will receive a scholarship covering a maximum of 220 EUR travel costs and 80 EUR accommodation costs. The costs will be reimbursed once the meeting is over.