Participation in the Second Workshop for PhD Candidates in Peace and Conflict Studies in Bavaria
5 November 2024
PhD students from all over Bavaria met at the workshop in Schney to discuss the various dissertation projects and different research fields. Apart from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich the University of Augsburg, the University of Bayreuth, the Institut für Fränkische Landesgeschichte of the University of Bamberg and Bayreuth as well as the Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate and Wissenschaft und Frieden e.V. were likewise represented. The workshop took place for the second time and was organised by the Chair of Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Augsburg as part of the BMBF research network Deutungskämpfe im Übergang – Bavarian Center for Peace and Conflict Research (Bayerisches Zentrum für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, BZeFK).
The participants presented many different research projects and draft articles and extensively discussed them conceptually, theoretically and methodologically. Among other issues, the topics of legitimisation of violence against civilians, conflict transformation and (counter-)revolution in Sudan were some objects of discussion. From the Center for Crisis Early Warning, Tobias Bohne presented his PhD project on the use of Natural Language Processing for creating a new data set on climate-related conflict and co-operation events. In addition, Lena Runge discussed her PhD project on the impact of military components’ withdrawal in international peace missions.
Besides, the workshop intended to facilitate interdisciplinary networking of PhD students in peace and conflict research in Bavaria. The workshop enabled the participants to establish new contacts and get to know already existing collaborations and networks.
With the venue located in rural Franconia, the workshop offered an excellent learning environment and a great opportunity for participants to share their experiences, challenges and projects. These valuable impulses gained will be used in the two PhD projects at the Center for Crisis Early Warning and further expand the expertise at the Centre.
Picture: © Michaela Zöhrer, Univ. Augsburg