Medienberichte über neuste Entwicklungen im Rüstungsbereich können durchaus an Science Fiction erinnern. Insbesondere der Einsatz von Künstlicher Intelligenz wird auch für das Militär im sogenannten “Zeitalter der Algorythmen” immer bedeutsamer. Aber in welche Bereiche der Kriegsführung ist KI bisher vorgedrungen? Und welche Ansätze zur Kontrolle gibt es?

Kunst hat sich im Verlauf der Geschichte und weltweit immer wieder mit Gewaltkonflikten befasst, ob als Gegenstand der Betrachtung, als Dokumentation, als Transformation, als kritische Reflexion oder um auf Gewalt, dringende Anliegen und schwierige Wahrheiten aufmerksam zu machen. Im PRIF talk spricht Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann darüber, in welchem Dialog Kunst und Konflikt miteinander stehen, welches Wissen Kunst im Kontext von Gewalt produzieren kann und wie Kunst menschliche Erfahrungen im Krieg…

The number of femicides is rising globally. Yet, perpetrators often face reduced sentences, reflecting a societal normalization of violence against women. In recent weeks, feminist activists have mobilized to draw attention to the crisis as part of the UN-led annual campaign, “Orange the World.” Their activism highlights both the severity of femicides and the role of women and LGBTIQ+ communities as powerful agents of change. Yet effective prevention of femicide and gender-based violence…

In line with the vision of an ‘ECOWAS of the People’, this Spotlight argues that ECOWAS must more actively integrate citizens’ perspectives into its peace and security work. Findings from a five-year research project in Burkina Faso and The Gambia show deep distrust and disappointment among elites and everyday citizens over the organization’s handling of political crises. Although some actions are appreciated and expectations are high, a wide gap persists between ECOWAS and West African…

Thirty-six years after the so-called Peaceful Revolution of 1989, the foundation stone for the Monument to Freedom and Unity was laid in Leipzig—a milestone in German commemorative culture. But as memories of the events fade, the once unifying narrative of the Peaceful Revolution as a success story is slowly beginning to crumble. Using survey data, this article examines knowledge and interpretation of the Peaceful Revolution in Germany and shows how this influences political participation and…

The Dayton Peace Agreement ended the Bosnian War, establishing the constitutional framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It achieved its immediate aim of ending direct violence, yet ended up creating a state apparatus that obstructs social equality and economic sovereignty. This Spotlight argues that the evaluation of its success must take two problems into account: the cementation of ethnic categories as foundational levels of governance and the resulting failure to address or transform war…

At the closing plenary of COP30 in Belém, United Nations (UN) Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell affirmed that “climate cooperation is alive and kicking, keeping humanity in the fight for a liveable planet”. 195 Parties approved the Belém Packages, intended to strengthen global climate policy. The adopted text set ambitious financial targets and launched two new initiatives: the Global Implementation Accelerator and the Belém Mission to 1.5°C. However, taking place amidst an…

From ancient caravan routes to modern highways, life in Mali has long depended on the free movement of people and goods. Recently, however, attacks on oil trucks by al-Qaeda affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), have brought life in many cities to a standstill. The southern and western regions of the country have not previously experienced militant Islamist activity at the scale observed in recent months. This blog post explores the intersection of the current security and…

36 Jahre nach der sogenannten Friedlichen Revolution von 1989 wurde in Leipzig der Grundstein für das Denkmal für Freiheit und Einheit gelegt – ein Meilenstein in der deutschen Erinnerungskultur. Gleichzeitig beginnt die Erzählung von der Friedlichen Revolution als Erfolgsgeschichte langsam zu bröckeln. Anhand von Umfragedaten untersucht dieses Spotlight das Wissen über und die Interpretation der Friedlichen Revolution in Deutschland. Es zeigt auf, wie diese die politische Partizipation…

What does it mean to resist when there are no slogans, no marches, no chants, only grief? This piece argues that the Women, Peace and Security agenda—despite its historic contributions—has often reduced women’s political agency to visibility, voice, and institutional participation. A feminist lens invites us to look beyond this framing and recognise the everyday, intimate, and affective forms of resistance through which women remember the dead, survive violence, and hold broken communities…