11/04/2026
We, Prof. Werner Wintersteiner, Dr. Wilfried Grad and Josef Muehlbauer, are pleased to announce the establishment of a new working group titled “Critical Realism (CR) & Peace Research”, which will be part of the Critical Realism Network.
Our aim is to create a vibrant intellectual community dedicated to exploring how CR can enrich and deepen the theoretical, methodological, and empirical foundations of peace research. The working group will serve as a platform for scholars who share an interest in ontology, epistemology, and emancipatory social science, and who wish to connect these perspectives with contemporary questions of conflict, peacebuilding, and global governance.
The working group will organize a biennial conference, providing a regular forum for presenting research, fostering dialogue, and building international networks. As an outcome of this shared work, we plan to publish a book anthology and/or journal articles (for the Journal of Critical Realism) that brings together diverse perspectives and advances the scholarly conversation on CR and peace research.
In addition, we will host a monthly gathering / Webinar series featuring a guest scholar who will deliver a lecture on a topic related to CR and/or peace research. Each session will be followed by an open discussion. All lectures and discussions will be recorded and made available on YouTube, allowing us to share these conversations and ideas widely and contribute to broader public and academic discourse. Our first Webinar with a Speech/Lecture will be held by Heikki Patomaki (University of Helsinki)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBsje0J7sJo&list=PL-o02RwsadZHP9LRwjjAKWVRRwygTKR8E
If you would like to join the group, attend the session, or have any further questions, please contact: [email protected]
https://josefmuehlbauer.com/critical-realism-peace-studies/
We are pleased to announce the Critical Realism & Peace Studies Group!
