Project Group
»Changing the Munich Security Conference« e.V.

Unsere Vision ist eine Münchner Konferenz für Friedenspolitik – Our Vision is a Munich Conference for Peace Policy

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09/19/25: Denkmail No. 47 – Nonviolent defense is effective

Dear friends of peace,

The federal government immediately forged a “license for debt” for its start. Conscription, arms expenditure of up to 5% (!) of the money earned by the people in the country, and range threats of weapons determine the discussion. And it is true: The fear of further escalation is real – and understandable. And the narrative of rearmament as the only logical answer is easily grasped. And yet many feel: This doesn’t really feel good.

Peace Congress shows: Nonviolent defense is effective – and inspires people

Over Easter this year, the online congress “Peace is Possible” with over 6000 participants took place in Germany. The intention was to reach people beyond the classic peace movement and to show: Nonviolent alternatives to military rearmament exist, they are tried and tested and effective.

And indeed, this was successful. The events met with enormous interest and resulted in lively resonance, courage and a spirit of optimism. For many, it became clear for the first time or again: Security can also be created through civilian, nonviolent strategies – and it works. This was shown, among others, by Betty Bigombe, Ugandan Minister, and the nonviolent Israeli-Palestinian campaign Combatants for Peace.

What made this congress so powerful was the wide range it spanned – from international politics to concrete peace work to the awareness of a personal inner peace. Political discussions and international diplomacy often remain abstract. The desire for viable alternatives to military logic is great. When people experience themselves as capable of acting, it shows that there is not only the choice between powerless passivity or military action. Feel free to read more at https://friedenistmoeglich.de/

The social openness for this perspective is there – it is waiting to be politically taken up. At the international Munich Peace Meeting of MSKv this October, this will be taken up from the perspective and expertise of 50 peace activists from 21 countries and discussed with the Munich Security Conference. Peace is not a state – it is a decision. Join us?

Sincerely,
Gerhard Rothaupt
Guest author MSKv

09/19/25: Denkmail No. 47 – Nonviolent defense is effective Read More »

Announcement: 7th Munich Peace Meeting 2025

On the initiative of the project group ‘Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz verändern’ e.V. and with the participation of the Munich Security Conference team, a Munich Peace Meeting has been held annually since 2019 as a non-public expert discussion.

The Munich Peace Meeting (MPM) has developed into an important event where
– peace research, peace work, the peace movement, and the MSC network,
– an in-depth expert exchange on aspects of security and peace policy takes place,
– concrete suggestions for the upcoming MSC in February each year can emerge regarding topics, guests, and formats.

The 7th Munich Peace Meeting will take place on September 29, 2025 (Part 1) and October 21, 2025 (Part 2).

The following key topics are planned:

  • Role of women in sustainable conflict transformation and peacekeeping
  • Influence of culture, religion, and tradition on security and peace instruments
  • Contribution of active non-violence and civil peace work to peacekeeping and stability
  • Social justice and inclusion as central foundations of constructive and sustainable peacebuilding

We will inform you about the results and further activities after the conclusion of the MPM 2025.

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06/07/25: Denkmail No. 46 on the stationing of medium-range missiles in Germany (Berlin Appeal)

New US medium-range missiles in Germany?

Dear friends of peace,

A year ago, the then Chancellor Scholz tersely announced that the German and US governments had bilaterally agreed that the Americans would station new medium-range missiles in Germany from 2026 onwards.

These are offensive weapons of the types Standard Missiles (SM-6), cruise missiles (Tomahawk) and hypersonic weapons (Dark Eagle, 17 times the speed of sound), ranges of 1700 km up to 2800 km, conventional warheads, but in principle also nuclear-capable, under the sole command of the USA. Planning for this began in 2017, long before the Ukraine war.

In 2019, the USA announced its withdrawal from the existing INF Treaty, citing an alleged capability gap. The planned stationing is not linked to any disarmament offer.

Due to the capabilities of these weapons (extremely short warning times) and the proximity to Russia, this step represents a dangerous escalation of the arms spiral and an enormous threat, especially to Russia. In a joint declaration by Presidents Putin (Russia) and Xi (China) on 4 February 2022, the danger of a “decapitation strike” emanating from this is therefore mentioned. This also means an incalculable threat for Germany. Dr. Erich Vad, Brigadier General (ret.), therefore says: “The stationing agreement is not acceptable from a German and European point of view.”

Since this gigantic build-up has not even been discussed in the Bundestag or a resolution passed, a majority in Germany rejects the stationing (Forsa survey) and the corresponding Berlin Appeal has so far been signed by 60,000 people, a broad public discussion must be held on this threatening measure with all its implications.

If the Munich Security Conference (MSC) really wants to be an open forum for all security issues, it is essential that it be discussed there in a broad framework with proven experts from science, politics, peace work, citizens’ councils and also experienced military personnel (Erich Vad, Harald Kujat, Wolfgang Richter)! And please do not only invite those seasoned talk show participants who argue with war logic and are well-known from the media, such as Carlo Masala, Klaus Mölling, Claudia Major or Nicole Deitelhoff!

What do you think about this? We look forward to hearing your views!

With peaceful greetings
Erwin Schelbert

 

06/07/25: Denkmail No. 46 on the stationing of medium-range missiles in Germany (Berlin Appeal) Read More »

Around the Munich Security Conference 2025

On MSC weekend in Munich you can at many events of the peace movement participate:

For reading, there is again our current MSKv-project newspaper (also in English)

We will continue our activities to change the conference at the MSC 2025 on site:

Press release: Rethinking MSKv and security for the MSC 2025

 

Around the Munich Security Conference 2025 Read More »

Review of the MSC conference observers from MSKv

Our review of the MSC 2025 will take place in the parish hall of the St. Bonifaz parish. Our conference observers, Ralf Becker and Alessia Neuner, will share their impressions and answer your questions. Information about our two conference observers can be found here.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2025, 4:30 PM
Location: Parish Center St. Bonifaz, Parish Hall Karlstr. 34, 80333 Munich
MVV: Subway U2, Königsplatz stop

Please also note our flyer for the event:

Following at the same location: Prayer for Peace of Religions, 6:30 PM

 

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MSKv Side Event 2025 – Peace Experts as a Counterpoint at the MSC

Since 2015, we have been proposing side events as a space for reflection and learning for the international participants of the MSC. Our cooperation partners were or are in particular: forumZFD, APTE.

Our theme for 2025 is:

“On the Way to a Century of Tolerance: Don’t Shoot!
Nonviolent De-escalation and Peace Practice of the Global South”


We know that courageous civil society campaigns, especially in the Global South, have an impact even in mostly very complex situations of systematic violence, towards the emergence of resilient communities that renounce violence. The MSC participants from international diplomacy, politics, business and military, institutes and think tanks, as well as civil society are invited to engage with the successful practice of our guests and to learn how conflict resolution and de-escalation can be tested in their area of responsibility through empathy, healing and active nonviolence, and how humane, human security succeeds.

The following resource persons have accepted our invitation and will speak at the MSC:

Marie-Noelle KOYARA, Bangui, Minister of Defense (2022), Dialogue with the terrorist groups in the Central African Republic
Archbishop Martin KIVUVA, Mombasa, Chairman (2024) Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops, Prevention of ethnic-political street violence after the dismissal of the President
Dr. Sylvain KOFFI, Abidjan/Ivory Coast, international consultant in social and peace programs, founding member of the Pan-African Union of Peace Professionals, Secretary General of the African network and the political campaign “Rethinking African Security” (RAS).

Press release by MSKv and Sicherheit neu denken on the Side Event at the MSC 2025

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02/07/2025: Project Newspaper No. 20 on the MSC 2025

The new edition of our project newspaper is now available for you. This issue again contains many interesting and up-to-date articles. Here is a little preview:

“Dear friends of peace, in a time of right-wing nationalism and extreme armament, in order to be as fit for war as possible, the International Munich Peace Conference is once again drawing attention to the foundations of peace. Our Munich Peace Meeting has also made proposals on this topic (→P.3) and all articles in this project newspaper deal with the central question of peace in the currently prevailing politics, which are determined by the logic of war. Are voices like those of Richard D. Precht and Heribert Prantl still being heard (→P.1)? The fact that medium-range missiles are being stationed in Germany again does not even lead to any significant protests, and the repeatedly invoked raison d’état towards Israel is not questioned despite violations of international law and war crimes (→P.5). This makes it all the more important to support the goals of the ‘Rethinking Security’ campaign – also at the MSC (→P.10) – (→P.6). After all, the MSC itself has already recognized that the West’s double standards call its credibility into question, but unfortunately they continue to be applied (→P.9). Interviews with the CEO of the MSC, Benedikt Franke, reveal that the transatlantic orientation towards the USA under Trump will hardly lead to a European peace architecture (→P.11). Unfortunately, no sustainable contribution can be expected from the parties (election programs) either. This makes our commitment to peace all the more important!”

Don’t miss out on this issue!

Click here to go directly to the project newspaper:

If you prefer the English version:

We look forward to receiving your feedback on the content.

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Our association’s conference observation at MSC 2025

Ralf Becker (sicherheitneudenken.de) and Alessia Neuner (Student of Peace and Conflict Research) will be our observers at the MSC this year.

Ralf Becker: Observer once again

As coordinator of the “Rethinking Security” initiative, I want to once again intensively observe as an observer – the atmosphere, the energy, the actors, and their way of moving and interacting within the MSC space. For me, this is the prerequisite and the key to discovering communication opportunities that we can gradually (further) develop, build up, and expand after the MSC. I
approach the MSC with a questioning attitude: How do I perceive myself in this space? What reveals itself to me? What scope for action emerges for shaping a cooperative global domestic policy? Where and how is encounter at eye level possible, where do opportunities arise to let go of the usual dominant stance of Western actors in the “great game” in favor of an encounter between actors from different cultural backgrounds at eye level? Where and how could the effectiveness of civilian security policy become perceptible and tangible? What kind of meeting spaces enable the establishment and expansion of trusting relationships?


Alessia Neuner: New observer

This year, I have the opportunity to participate in the MSC as an observer, marking my first visit to such a prominent political event. I am currently still studying Peace and Conflict Research, and I am therefore eager to see what impressions and questions the conference will leave and raise for me. The program’s focus this time seems to be on defense, world order, human security, sustainability, and technology. It will certainly be exciting to see how these concepts are addressed in the panels and discussion rounds. Which events, problems, and needs will be taken up? Which solutions will be presented? Which perspectives will be highlighted? And which voices might be missing from the large and small stages of the MSC? I also want to try to reflect repeatedly on how I perceive the Security Conference from my perspective as a person read and socialized as female. And above all, I hope for the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other participants to learn about diverse viewpoints on the event.

Our conference observers report – Information see here

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