Co-Founder of Empowerment for Peace (EfP) Maximilian Lakitsch won the REWI Research Prize for his project "EnviPeace: MR-supported training for peacebuilding in crisis and conflict areas affected by climate change and environmental destruction." Further information on the project is available at this link.

Co-Founder of Empowerment for Peace (EfP) Michael Kramer published together with Prof. Ednan Aslan the book “Islamic anti-Semitism” – published in the renowned Springer Publisher.

To the book (in German) – link.

Co-Founder of Empowerment for Peace (EfP) Bernadette Holzer co-organized the Austrian Forum for Peace (2025). Hosted by the University of Graz and the Austrian Center for Peace (ACP), the summer school was held at the Austrian Forum for Peace at the Peace Castle Schlaining from June 30 until July 3, 2025. Organized by Dr. Maximilian Lakitsch (University of Graz), Empowerment for Peace (EfP), and assisted by Josef Mühlbauer (University of Graz), this year’s summer school provided an excellent opportunity for students and practitioners from around the globe to connect with experts and explore the climate, peace, and security nexus. At the end, the participants received a certificate.

The Conference “Transformation Towards a (more) Socially and Ecologically Just Future” held in Vienna/Austria, Oct. 3-5. 2025, was organized by TU Wien, BOKU, Uni Graz, PH Freiburg, Prof. Uwe Bittlingmayer, Empowerment for Peace, Peace Researcher Josef Mühlbauer and many more.

Watch the announcement here (in German).

Roundtable “For a resilient democracy free of violence – through strong peace and conflict research”
The Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research of the Republic of Austria, Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ), invited experts from academia, particularly from peace and conflict research, to this roundtable discussion on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. At this roundtable, our scientific researcher Josef Mühlbauer presented the key principles of peace journalism, non-violent communication and peace studies.

Instagram (Eva-Maria Holzleitner)

On the occasion of the eightieth “birthday” of the United Nations, renowned experts will discuss pressing issues: Hans-Christof von Sponeck, former UN Assistant Secretary-General; Andreas Bummel, Director of Democracy Without Borders and thought leader for a more democratic UN architecture; Prof. Klaus Moegling, expert in international politics and conflict research; and IPPNW human rights activists Dr. Angelika Claußen and Rolf Bader. Organized by Democracy Without Borders, Empowerment for Peace (EfP) & Prof. i.R. Dr. Klaus Moegling and moderated by peace journalist & peace researcher Josef Mühlbauer. Watch here (in German)

Speech at the United Nations/Vienna International Center on Peace Studies (Josef Mühlbauer)

Peace Researcher Josef Mühlbauer (University Assistant Uni Graz) and peace researcher at Empowerment for Peace (EfP) was invited to give a speech at the United Nations Building in Vienna (Vienna International Center, VIC). Peace in a fragmented world, was the title of his speech. The speech has more than 7300 views in just few months – watch here.

Panel Discussion with Experts on the Sahel-Region in Africa, organized and moderated by the peace researcher and peace journalist Josef Mühlbauer, in cooperation with the University of Graz & Empowerment for Peace & Vienna Institute for Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC).

The Sahel region is an arid transitional area between the Sahara and the savannah, stretching from West to East Africa. It is characterized by extreme climatic conditions, political instability, poverty, and conflict. At the same time, it possesses rich cultural diversity and significant natural resources. Challenges such as desertification, terrorism, and migration make it a geopolitical hotspot of global relevance. This region is at the center of global political, cultural, and humanitarian debates—but what makes this region so unique? What historical, ethnic, and geopolitical dynamics shape it? And how can current challenges be overcome?

Watch the Event on the VIPR – Varna Institute for Peace Research Channel (in German)

Peace Research & Peace Studies:

Josef Mühlbauer, Maximilian Lakitsch (eds.) (2024)
Critical Peace Research. Concepts, Analyses & Diagnoses

Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022 and the COVID-19 pandemic have set social and political dynamics in motion and led to numerous upheavals. Certainties have been shaken, boundaries and classifications shifted. Against this backdrop, this volume discusses political, social, and ecological processes and phenomena from the perspective of critical peace research. This approach looks beneath the surface of the obvious and describes underlying power relations and unconscious aspects.
The volume brings together texts with different focuses: academic articles, but also essays, shorter treatises, and an interview on a broad spectrum of topics: from military interventions and religious actors to the connection between the climate crisis and war and the relevance of art and pop culture for peace.

With contributions from, among others, by Dieter Segert, Claudia Brunner, Roy Casagranda, Werner Wintersteiner, Gerhard Senft and Mohssen Massarat. Here available in German.

TALK – 13th May 2023, 17:30 University of Graz
Let’s talk about Haiti!
Restoring peace and human rights in a collapsing state William O’Neill UN expert on human rights in Haiti

Moderation Bernadette Holzer Empowerment for Peace

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Peace Researcher and Peace Journalist Josef Mühlbauer was invited at the Swedish Embassy, on the Panel Discussion “Pathways to Peace”, UNSCR 1325. The UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security isn’t a niche Issue, it’s a strategic imperative and a pathway to peace. Before UNSCR 1325, the work of women in peacebuilding was often informal, overlooked, and underfunded. Read here the main takeaways!