Modern armed conflicts are no longer confined to specific regions; they ripple through global politics and society. The current war in Gaza illustrates this trend, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas sparks hostilities across neighboring states and beyond.

Hybrid actors like Hamas operate transnationally, influencing global narratives and fueling divisions. These conflicts not only ignite violence but also deepen polarization and radicalization in distant societies, as seen in the surge of antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiments across Europe. Even expert communities are not immune, as the discourse becomes increasingly politicized and antagonistic. On social media, the conflict is debated in highly polemic and hostile ways, with various platforms also serving as tools for state and non-state propaganda.

The PRIF Annual Conference 2024 "Far Away, Yet So Close: Armed Conflicts in the Transnational Constellation“ aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the transnational dimensions of modern armed conflicts. While the ongoing war in Gaza serves as a striking example, these phenomena are characteristic of contemporary conflicts worldwide. The conference will analyze how these conflicts extend beyond borders, influencing global politics, media, and society. Through a comparative perspective, the discussions will explore the roles of hybrid actors, the spread ofviolence, and the deepening polarization within and across  societies, offering insights into the broader implications of these transnational dynamics.

The PRIF Annual Conference 2024 is sponsored by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Program

Thursday, 10 October 2024

• 1.30–2 p.m. Welcome & Introductory Remarks, Nicole Deitelhoff, PRIF, Claudia Baumgart-Ochse, PRIF
• 2–3.45 p.m. Panel 1: Transnational Actors in Armed Conflicts, Chair: Claudia Baumgart-Ochse, PRIF, Élise Féron, Tampere Peace Research Institute: Transnational Support: Diasporas in Conflict, Imad Alsoos, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology: Transnational Armed Actors: Mobilization and Discourse of Hamas, Jo Jakobsen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology: Transnational Private Actors: Multinational Companies in Zones of Conflict, Regine Schwab, PRIF / Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl, Leiden University: A Pact with the Devil? Cooperation between Rebels and Jihadists, Discussant: León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Asser Institute, Armed non-state actors, diasporas, multinational companies, and rebel groups: Many different types of transnational actors are involved in or affected by violent conflicts. They operate across national borders, maintain transnational networks, or address a global audience. In this panel, experts explore the ways in which these actors organize themselves, secure support structures, build networks and seek to influence discourses. What kind of strategies do transnational actors employ in order to reach their goals? How do they connect, cooperate, and communicate?
• 3.45–4.15 p.m. Coffee Break
• 4.15–6 p.m. Panel 2: Transnational Effects of Armed Conflicts, Chair: Regine Schwab, PRIF, Neta Crawford, University of Oxford: Transnational Damages: Climate Costs of Armed Conflict, Felix Bethke / Julian Junk, PRIF: The Gaza War and Radicalization in Germany, Clemens Arzt, Berlin School of Economics and Law: Taming Transnational Solidarity: Gaza and Protest Bans in Germany, Max Schaub, University of Hamburg: Transnational Violent Conflict and the Demand for Healthcare: How Armed Conflict reduces Trust, instills Fear, and increases Child Mortality, Discussant: Irene Weipert-Fenner, PRIF, Armed conflicts cause a variety of effects which do not stop at national or regional borders. This panel looks at such severe repercussions which may reach well beyond the original location of violent confrontations. Among these effects are the environmental damages caused by war which have negative consequences for the fight against global warming. In addition, violent conflicts such as the Gaza war may be instrumentalized by groups abroad in order to fuel radicalization; and transnational solidarity protest needs to be dealt with by local authorities. Last but not least, armed conflicts affect healthcare in a profound way as increased child mortality demonstrates - even after hostilities have ended.
• 6–7 p.m. Roundtable: Transnationale Effekte des Krieges in Gaza in Frankfurt und Deutschland (in German) // Transnational Effects of the War in Gaza in Frankfurt and Germany, Chair: Stefan Kroll, PRIF, Deborah Schnabel, Bildungsstätte Anne Frank, Sabena Donath, Bildungsabteilung des Zentralrats der Juden, Philip Wallmeier, Ziehenschule Frankfurt. The roundtable brings together practitioners of civic education, schools, and representatives of religious and ethnic communities to discuss the repercussions of the Gaza war in a city like Frankfurt, as well as in Germany in general. What are the experiences in dealing with the debate in Germany on a day-to-day basis? And how can civil society confront polarization, animosity, and hate?
• Friday, 11 October 2024
• 9–10.45 a.m. Panel 3: Armed Conflicts in Transnational DiscoursesChair: Hanna Pfeifer, PRIF, Nahed Samour, Radboud University: Transnational Legal Discourse: Law and Morality in the Gaza War, Laliv Melamed, University of Groningen: Transnational Media Discourse and the Mediation of Human Vulnerability, Maria Hartmann, University of Marburg: Dealing with Political Violence as Post-Migration Society? Transnationalizing Experiences from Syria and GDR through Activist Exchange, Discussant: Thilo Marauhn, University of Gießen / PRIF / Asser Institute, Discourses on armed conflict are increasingly global in reach and often reflect the antagonism of the conflict parties. Neither media nor academic debates are exempt from this observation. This panel sheds light on different transnational discourses such as the legal debate on the Gaza war, the mediation of human vulnerability in transnational media, as well as the discursive exchange between migrant and non-migrant communities regarding experiences of political violence. How do different segments of society speak about war and violence? How do interlocutors use language in order to shape discourses? And what drives polarization - or may foster understanding?
• 10.45–11.15 a.m. Coffee Break
• 11.15 a.m.–1 p.m. Panel 4: Transnational Practices in Armed Conflicts, Chair: Hendrik Simon, PRIF, Alex Dukalskis, University College Dublin: Transnational Reach of States: Authoritarian State Practices, Allison Koh, University of Birmingham: Authoritarian Politics and Transnational Digital Repression, Mona Kanwal Sheikh, Danish Institute für International Studies: Transnational Spread of Violence: Jihadi Mobilization, Hanna Pfeifer, PRIF: Transnational Governance by Armed Groups: The Case of ISIS, Discussant: Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl, Leiden University. States and non-state actors employ transnational practices in order to influence the actual course of violent conflict as well as impact global public opinion. Such practices include the repression of (former) citizens abroad, cyber threats, public diplomacy, the intentional spread of violence across borders, financing, provision of weapons, and building transnational governance. This panel will examine transnational practices of different actors such as authoritarian states and Jihadi groups.
• 1–2 p.m. Light Lunch
• 2–3 p.m. Closing Discussion: Armed Conflicts in the Transnational Constellation, Chair: Claudia Baumgart-Ochse, PRIF, León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Asser Institute, Neta Crawford, University of Oxford, Nahed Samour, Radboud University, Mona Kanwal Sheikh, Danish Institute für International Studies

The conference will be held in English at PRIF in Frankfurt. Please register at annualconference(at)prif.org by October 4, 2023.