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© Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

On 16 February 2024, the Presidents and representatives of five Bavarian universities founded a new research alliance in the field of Peace and Conflict Studies.

The cooperation – Bayerische Wissenschaftsallianz für Friedens-, Konflikt- und Sicherheitsforschung – involves the Universities of Bayreuth, Regensburg, and Erlangen-Nuremberg, the University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich, and the Munich School of Philosophy. It is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and by Universität Bayern e.V.

In these turbulent times, the issues of social cohesion, peace, and security have become all the more important. The interdisciplinary alliance will therefore strengthen and institutionalize networking between the participating universities and create synergies in cooperation. "It is only through interdisciplinary collaboration and networking of the brightest minds in Bavaria that answer can be given on the current pressing issues and that a contribution to global security can be made", expressed Prof. Stefan Leible (President of the University of Bayreuth and Chair person of Universität Bayern e.V.).

Drawing on the expertise of leading researchers from various disciplines, the alliance will play an important role in making Bavaria a center of excellent research in this field. Its head office will be based at the Munich School of Philosophy.

The alliance's scientific steering group comprises renowned colleagues from the participating universities: Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg), Prof. Jana Hönke (University of Bayreuth), Michael Reder (Munich School of Philosophy), Prof. Stefan Stetter (University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich), and Dr. Cindy Wittke (University of Regensburg).

Prof. Jana Hönke from our UBT Peace and Conflict research network is part of the scientific steering group.