Citizen Peace Science: Lifelong Learning in Divided Societies

Fulfilling peace, understanding, and social cohesion is an ongoing challenge in divided societies. My new proposal introduces "Citizen Peace Science," a novel approach to address these issues. Citizen Peace Science involves participatory research that engages citizens in studying peace, conflict resolution, and social cohesion. This initiative aims to democratize science and present political science as a tool in the hands of citizens to observe and deal with their own local conflicts. Our pilot project will focus on Israel's Periphery, examining challenges and potential opportunities for cooperation between urban centers and their country surroundings.

Peace and the City: Investigating Legacies of the Violent Past in Urban Settings

Wars don't simply end. Past violent events leave enduring marks on societies, communities, and individuals. In a new Israeli-German collaboration, we propose to explore how violent conflict's historical legacy is embedded in contemporary urban environments. We aim to understand how past violence influences current attitudes, identities, and material infrastructures in post-conflict cities. By examining this interplay and comparing Berlin, Haifa, Johanessburg, and Sarajevo, we seek to identify challenges and opportunities for developing peaceful societies.