Conference of Experts „The Kurds in context of (de-)escalation in the Middle East”
in cooperation with Volkshochschule Köln und Civaka Azad – Kurdisches Zentrum für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit e.V.
27.01.2018
1-6 pm
FORUM Volkshochschule
im Museum am Neumarkt
Cäcilienstr. 29-33
50676 Cologne
The Middle East, historically as well as currently is marked by various ethic and confessional connoted conflict lines and wars. Different regional and international players are formative on this occasion. Kurds are a determining factor in this context, especially with regard to long-term peace in the region. With the conference we would like to analyse the conflict constellation in the Middle East as well as peace policy approaches.
In the first part we want to take a closer look to ethic and confessional connoted conflict dynamics in the Middle East, the transformation of regimes into dictatorships and the issue of women within the focus of force and war.
The second part will focus on democratic perspectives to end armed conflicts. In this context concepts of federalism should be consulted in addition to comparisons with international peace processes.
During the concluding discussion peacebuilding developement lines for the region should be generated.
Speakers: Ulrich Tilgner (Journalist and Middle-East expert), Mahir Tokatli (political scientist, University of Bonn), Eren Keskin (Co-Chair of Human Rights Association IHD, Türkei), Adem Uzun (Executive Committee of Kurdistan National Kongresses), Prof. Dr. Heinemann-Grüder (political scientist, University of Bonn), Prof. Dr. Mithat Sancar (HDP MP, jurists), Dilar Dirik (sociologist, Universität Cambridge)
Moderators: Diana Hodali (Journalist), Rosa Burc (political scientist, University of Bonn), Dersim Dagdeviren (physician, Co-Chair of Kurd-Akad)