The German-Colombian Peace Institute (CAPAZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, the Leibniz Institute for Peace and Conflict Research (PRIF), Philipps University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen invite submissions for the congress "Ten Years of the Signing of the Peace Agreement in Colombia: Lessons, Challenges and Tasks for Reflecting on Complexity" (Spanish: Diez Años de la Firma del Acuerdo de Paz en Colombia: Aprendizajes, retos y desafíos para reflexionar la complejidad). The conference will be held in Spanish on 14 and 15 December 2026 at Goethe University Frankfurt.
In 2016, the negotiation process between the Colombian state and the FARC-EP, one of the world's oldest guerrilla movements, ended with the signing of a peace agreement. This marked the beginning of a transition process that continues to this day. Despite tensions and controversies, numerous institutional and civil society strategies for implementing the agreement emerged, many of which enjoy broad international support.
After ten years, the balance is mixed. Despite innovations and lessons learned in peace policy, the country is facing growing violence and insecurity linked to the changing nature of the conflict and its actors. In addition, critics from various sides point to shortcomings in the negotiations conducted by the previous government under the so-called Paz Total (Total Peace) policy, while the current government is again relying more heavily on armed confrontation as the state's central strategy.
The past years have thus been marked by political and institutional tensions that call into question the reach, continuity and sustainability of the peace process. This gives rise to, among other things, academic interest in complex, interdisciplinary and context-sensitive analyses of the process, its achievements and its challenges. All of this takes place against the backdrop of a global political situation characterized by a deep crisis of democracy and human rights protection.
The call is addressed to professors, postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates, who can submit their proposals in Spanish or English. Applications must include an abstract of no more than 250 words and a biography of no more than 150 words. Selected participants can apply for a travel grant covering transport and accommodation. The thematic areas and further information can be found here: Convocatoria para la Presentación de Ponencias-Frankfurt.docx
Application deadline: 20 October 2026
Contact for inquiries: convocatorias(at)instituto-capaz.org