Overview

This online lab examines the role of civil society, as a central mid-level actor in peace-building processes, including civil society organizations (CSOs), religious and ethnic leaders, intellectuals, and professional associations, and their capacity to bridge decision-makers and conflict-affected communities.

Structured as an interactive seminar, the course integrates academic literature with experiential knowledge. Representatives from member organizations of the Critical Peace Network, including groups working in human rights, women’s rights, LGBTQI+ advocacy, cultural heritage, memory, and education, will participate as guest speakers. The course places particular emphasis on peace-building initiatives related to the Kurdish issue in Turkey and Syria, with contributions from practitioners and students from Rojava University, who will share field experiences from civil society work conducted under challenging conditions.

Students will engage in weekly thematic discussions, practitioner dialogues, and case study analysis. Course requirements include active participation and a very short research paper examining a civil society organization operating in a peace-related field in Syria/Rojava?. Designed to provide a secure environment for all participants, the course aims to foster critical reflection, comparative analysis, and context-sensitive understanding of civil society’s evolving role in sustainable peace-building processes.