Reimagining Reconciliation:
Philosophies, Theologies, and Theoretical Frameworks for Reconciliation Studies and Practices
The 8th Annual Conference of the
International Association for Reconciliation Studies (IARS)
September 18 - 21, 2027
Jena, Germany
Key Dates
Application Deadline:
March 1, 2027
Acceptance Notifications:
May 1, 2027
Deadline to Confirm Participation or Withdraw:
August 1, 2027
Participants who do not confirm by this date may be removed from the program.
Registration & Payment Deadline:
August 1, 2027
Payment must be received by this date in order to appear in the final conference program.
Check out Frequently Asked Questions Section for conference details, including program, keynote speakers, fees, travel information, and accommodation recommendations.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to us via this email: iars.jena.2027@gmail.com
THEMES
The conference welcomes paper and panel proposals broadly related to in theory and practice, including but not limited to:
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Theories and Models of Reconciliation
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Reconciliation in Divided or Post-Conflict Societies
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Reconciliation and Foreign Policy
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Reconciliation, Memory, and Identity in Divided Communities
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Reconciliation and Security Politics
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Reconciliation and Transitional Justice
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Reconciliation and Truth, Forgiveness, and Accountability
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Reconciliation and Historical Antagonisms or Atrocities
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Reconciliation and State Violence
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Reconciliation and Colonialism or Imperialism
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Reconciliation and Economics or Development
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Reconciliation and Migration
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Reconciliation and Refugee Studies
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Reconciliation and Cultural Heritage
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Reconciliation, Religion, and Social Justice
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Reconciliation and Interfaith Dialogue
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Reconciliation and the Role of Civil Society
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Reconciliation, Women, and Gender Justice
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Reconciliation and Youth Engagement
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Reconciliation and Marginalized or Displaced Communities
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Applications of Reconciliation Theory in Contemporary Societies
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Human Security, Peace and Reconciliation
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Reconciliation and Global Structures
We also welcome alternative submissions, including workshops, book talks, roundtables, and film screenings.
INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFERENCE AND JENA
Established in 1558 as one of the first Protestant universities, the University of Jena offers a rich historical setting for Reconciliation Studies, alongside a vibrant contemporary environment shaped by technological advances, social transformation, and academic innovation. In 2026, the University of Jena was selected for funding under Germany's Excellence Strategy, with its research cluster Imaginamics: Practices and Dynamics of Social Imagining. This emphasis on imagination resonates strongly with the importance of imagining and reimagining reconciliation.
The profound transformations of our historical moment invite us to reflect beyond the immediate demands of research and practice and critically reconsider our assumptions, worldviews, and theoretical frameworks. Jena provides a particularly meaningful setting for such reflection. Located near the battlefield where Napoleon defeated Prussia in 1806 and within reach of the Buchenwald concentration camp, the city bears witness to profound historical ruptures and their enduring consequences. It is also the university where Hegel wrote his Phenomenology of Spirit and Karl Marx received his doctorate.
Inspired by this historical and intellectual environment, we invite participants to broaden their perspectives on reconciliation by engaging more deeply with philosophy and theology, drawing not only on Christian traditions but also on Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Indigenous, and other religious and spiritual traditions. We hope to create a space for questioning established assumptions, exploring alternative worldviews, and developing new theoretical approaches to reconciliation.
We welcome contributions from scholars and practitioners presenting case studies and practices of reconciliation processes, as well as from philosophers, theologians, and scholars developing theoretical frameworks who are interested in critically rethinking and reimagining reconciliation across different historical, cultural, and religious contexts.
We particularly encourage applications from scholars and practitioners from the Global South. Financial support may be available for selected participants.
ABOUT IARS & RECONCILIATION STUDIES
The International Association for Reconciliation Studies (IARS) hosts a conference in a different part of the world each year, rotating between Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, to promote global inclusivity and dialogue.
Reconciliation Studies is a relatively young research paradigm that emerged from the experiences of “transitional” societies such as South Africa and Rwanda. It is distinct from classical peace and conflict research: while conventional peace approaches often emphasize structural and institutional dimensions, Reconciliation Studies focuses on the relational, emotional, and cognitive aspects of conflict prevention, transformation, and resolution, without neglecting structural or systemic factors. From this perspective, reconciliation asks how normal and, if possible, good relations can be (re)established within a society at all levels, intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-collective, and institutional, taking into account both top-down and bottom-up processes.
Reconciliation is not only a private or interpersonal matter. It also requires policies of reconciliation: truth-telling and accountability; justice and reparations; truth and reconciliation commissions; victim–perpetrator dialogue; and the creation of public spaces for memory and social healing. Truth and justice, especially restorative justice, are central components of Reconciliation Studies, integrating the needs of victims, perpetrators, and broader societies.
IARS conferences provide an inclusive space where case studies, theories, models, and conceptual frameworks of reconciliation are brought into dialogue with contemporary global issues such as social justice, ecological sustainability, migration, refugee experiences, and memory studies. The conference is genuinely inter- and transdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, philosophy, education, sociology, economics, law, political science, history, regional studies, communication studies, art, and theology.
Jena 2027 Organizers and Supporters
