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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Announcement: 8th Munich Peace Meeting

At the suggestion and based on the concept of the project group “Changing the Munich Security Conference” (registered association), this non-public expert dialogue takes place annually with the participation of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) team . This year it will be held on October 21 (preliminary meeting on October 7).

Since 2019, this forum has provided a platform on which peace research, peacebuilding practice, and the peace movement can network with the MSC team, generating concrete input for the upcoming MSC in February of the following year. In connection with the paradigm of peace logic and based on the successful peace practice of the invited participants, we set topics and recommend guests/experts and formats for the MSC.

The objective for this year is formulated as follows: “Balancing the MSC: strengthening international diplomacy by anchoring it in the paradigm of comprehensive human security instead of excessive militarism.”

We have set ourselves the following guiding question: What needs to be addressed at the MSC, with whom, in what format, and with what substantive orientation, if it is to further develop as a platform for “comprehensive human security” (comprehensive human security)?

50 experts from 25 countries will deliberate in four independent focus groups:

  1. New world order: “Multilateralism in a new world order.” In view of shifting international alliances, the group will examine how insights from emerging and middle powers can shape definitions of security, with a focus on the influence of civil society in these countries on defining and shaping this human security.
  2. Nonviolence/Cultural resources: “The impulses and impacts of nonviolence and peace actions on human security.” How can insights from nonviolent collective action, as well as from traditional, religious, and spiritual leadership, be incorporated into international peace and security diplomacy?
  3. Women: “Women in leadership positions in the field of peace and security.” How can women’s voices be strengthened in the discourse on peace and security and be better heard? What would security and peace processes look like if no men were at the table?
  4. Next Gen: “The next generation for peace and security.” How can young people be empowered as agents of change for peace and security? How can the involvement of the next generation in international peace and security diplomacy be designed and ensured?

Announcement: 8th Munich Peace Meeting Read More »

Announcement: Lecture as part of the Munich Peace Weeks

Where: EineWeltHaus, Room 211/212
When: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:00 PM
Who: Erwin Schelbert, Project Group “Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz verändern” e.V.

Topic: Military, Rearmament, War – devastating climate killers!
 Concealed – sugar-coated – greenwashing.

New studies show without sugar-coating: military, weapons, and especially war, represent extreme climate killers. Unconsidered by the IPCC and ignored in the Paris Climate Agreement, their CO2 emissions nullify all savings for climate protection.

All goals for climate neutrality are unattainable due to rearmament!

We look forward to your participation and an interesting discussion after the presentation.

Admission is free.

You can find the flyer for the event here

Announcement: Lecture as part of the Munich Peace Weeks Read More »

Thought Memo No. 48 – Peace or War? Human Ethics for Artificial Intelligence

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends of peace,

At the world-renowned Hannover Messe, German defense companies exhibited innovative production technologies “to support the security and defense industry.” Peace activists, scientists, and religious representatives have been warning for years about the danger of war posed by new automated weapon systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Instead of arms shows, we need a social dialogue that places AI within the framework of human ethics.

AI is in the process of changing the world: science, economy, geopolitics. The topic also plays a role at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), but with a one-sided focus on military and criminal use. The side event “From Cyberwar to Cyberpeace” proposed by MSKverändern, which addressed the ethical dimensions and peace-promoting potential of AI, was unfortunately not taken up by the conference management.

While AI is analyzed in the context of warfare and the digital competition between great powers, a link to insights from peace ethics, philosophy, and theology has been missing so far. There is also a lack of consideration for perspectives from the Global South. When one considers the global destructive potential of AI and its military and criminal use, this deficit is not just a blind spot, but a veritable security risk.

An intensive dialogue on ethical questions regarding AI would be important—between North, South, East, and West, and between politics, technology, ethics, and religious communities. In this regard, I was impressed by the Vatican’s sober and well-founded analysis: the role of human decisions in AI-supported warfare and the enormous AI resource consumption of energy and water are presented and weighed here (Antiqua et Nova, January 2025).

Experts compare the historical-transformative significance of AI to the invention of the atomic bomb. I call for spending not only vast sums on the military use of AI, but also investing in the peace-building potential of AI, e.g., in education, medicine, ecology, and development cooperation. For AI, too, the following must apply: less readiness for war, more capacity for peace!

And what are your thoughts on “Alexa, ChatGPT and Co.” at the MSC?

Sincerely,
Dr. Peter Bender

Peter Bender is a political scientist and theologian and a member of the board of Religions for Peace
Germany e.V. He regularly participates in the dialogue between MSKverändern and the
Munich Security Conference.

Thought Memo No. 48 – Peace or War? Human Ethics for Artificial Intelligence Read More »

MSKverändern Members’ Meeting 2026

On March 1, 2026, the annual members’ meeting of the association took place in the community center of the Erlöserkirche in Munich-Schwabing.
Dr. Thomas Mohr, Chairman of the project group, chaired the meeting and, following his welcome, outlined the key topics of the event:

  • organizational structure of the association
  • definition of thematic priorities
  • recruitment of new members and supporters
  • finances

In addition, the board was elected:
Dr. Thomas Mohr remains the Chairman of the association.
Katharina Rottmayr-Czerny and Matthias Linnemann were also confirmed in their positions.

The association wishes the board great success in their continued work!

MSKverändern Members’ Meeting 2026 Read More »

Observer Reports MSC 2026

This year, Dr. Inga Blum / IPPNW and Natalia Jagolski / Leiden University visited the Munich Security Conference for MSKv. Here are their interesting reports:

Observer Report Dr. Inga Blum

Observer Report Natalia Jagolski

In addition to intensive networking, the two MSC observers were able to use their conference visit to generate media attention:

Inga Blum contributed with a statement on nuclear weapons to the panel discussion “Under Reconstruction: A World Order for the Next Generation.”

Panel Discussion A World Order for the Next Generation
(the statement can be viewed from minute 25:00)

Inga Blum has also prepared a conference report for the organization “International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War” (IPPNW):

Arms over norms: Military budgets given priority at security conference

Natalia Jagolski was approached by BBC News for an interview during the conference. For legal reasons, we are unfortunately unable to show this interview.

Thomas Mohr (Chairman MSKv) and Christoph Steinbrink (also MSKv) were interviewed by Radio Lora München. The focus was primarily on the question of whether the MSC and military strength actually contribute to greater security, and whether it is possible to exert influence on the conference. Inga Blum and Natalia Jagolski also have their say in this piece: What was discussed at the non-public MSC events? To what extent is a war scenario in 2029 being assumed? What role do diplomatic means play? And what about human security and the younger generation? The interview was conducted by Kevin Kaisig (Nord Süd Forum München e.V. – for a world of solidarity). Here is the link to the interview:

Eine-Welt-Report: The MSC 2026 – Dancing on a Volcano?

The daily newspaper “nd” reported extensively on the activities of MSKv in its article on the MSC 2026. Dr. Thomas Mohr and Dr. Inga Blum were quoted, and Natalia Jagolski was mentioned by name. Here is the link to the article:

Is the “Arms Bazaar” Reformable?

Note on the paywall: “nd” is among the financially struggling newspapers. If desired, the article can still be read free of charge. In addition to the standard subscriptions at “nd,” there is also the option to make a one-time payment.

Observer Reports MSC 2026 Read More »

Debriefing by MSKv’s MSC Conference Observers

As in previous years, MSKv sent two observers to the MSC.

This year’s conference observers, Dr Inga Blum and Natalia Jagolski, shared their impressions on February 15, 2026, as part of an event at the Hansa-Haus.

You can find information about our two conference observers here.

Here is the recording of the event, which was opened by Dr. Thomas Mohr (Chairman of MSKv) and moderated by Markus Brunnhuber (also of MSKv):

 

Debriefing by MSKv’s MSC Conference Observers Read More »

Project Journal Issue No. 21 for MSC 2026

Dear friends of peace,
the new issue of our project journal was completed on time for the Munich Security Conference. The past few months have been politically very turbulent. It was challenging to take the latest geopolitical developments into account. We are confident that we have once again succeeded in publishing an exciting and informative project journal. Here is a small preview:

“… what crazy times are these, in which human security is predominantly seen only in strength, power, superiority in weapons, and in dangerous threat and deterrence potential? Has the concept of “common security” with each other, instead of against each other (Olof Palme), been completely sacrificed to the logic of war? In addition to the editorial (→ p. 1), which advocates for an international peace movement, other contributions also highlight how dangerous military escalation is in Europe and the USA (→ p. 7), but also in Gaza (→ p. 5). In this almost hysterical atmosphere of arms frenzy, where many countries are almost doubling their defense spending, does a voice calling for “non-violence” (→ p. 11) still have a chance to be heard at all? Shouldn’t we all become peace-capable instead of war-capable, to jointly overcome humanity’s existential problems? Fabian Scheidler highlights this urgency in his book “Peace-Capable” (→ p. 15), and therefore it should primarily be discussed in schools, instead of bringing the Bundeswehr into the classroom (→ p. 6). This could also be used to analyze how much our so-called “rules-based order of the West” (→ p. 13) is built on lies and double standards. It remains to be hoped that the peace movement will regain strength to stand up against new intermediate-range missiles (→ p. 14) and the militarization of civil society. Are you with us? Your opinion on this is important to us!”

Don’t miss out on this issue!

Click here to go directly to the project newspaper:

… and here is the English version:

We look forward to your feedback on our new project journal.

 

Project Journal Issue No. 21 for MSC 2026 Read More »

Around the Munich Security Conference 2026

During the MSC weekend in Munich you can – as in previous years – participate in many events of the peace movement:

For reading, there is again our current MSKv-project newspaper

We will also continue our activities to change the conference at the MSC 2026 on site:

 

Around the Munich Security Conference 2026 Read More »

Conference observation of our association at the MSC 2026

Dr. Inga Blum (Co-President IPPNW) and Natalia Jagolski (Junior Lecturer, Leiden University) will be our observers at the MSC this year.

New as observer: Dr. Inga Blum

As Co-President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), I am very pleased to be an observer at the Munich Security Conference this year. My focus is on the growing risk of nuclear war, which is fueled by the current wars and conflicts and the armament of all nuclear weapon states.

How will the topic be discussed at the MSC? Are there any ideas for risk reduction and new arms control? How is the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons assessed, which focuses on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and is already supported by over 70% of the international community?

I would like to discuss this with conference participants and specifically establish contacts with whom we can continue to work to strengthen humanitarian disarmament.

New as observer: Natalia Jagolski

As a Junior Lecturer in Security Studies at Leiden University and as an advocate for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS), I experience that security is perceived as a topic that is too serious to involve young people. At the same time, expectations are growing that the young generation should take responsibility for national defense.

Both as a youth observer at the Peacekeeping Ministerial and Young Peacebuilder at the 2nd EU YPS Conference, the practical implementation of youth participation and meeting as equals remain a challenge. In times in which the rules-based international order is being questioned and the concept of security is increasingly defined militarily, it is therefore all the more important to promote generation-equitable approaches to peace and security.

I am therefore curious to see how this paradigm shift will be reflected at the MSC, and I hope that young people will be taken seriously as peace actors.

As MSKv, we are already very excited about the reports from our conference observers. Please make a note of the date and location: Review of the MSC 2026

Conference observation of our association at the MSC 2026 Read More »

Prayer for Peace (Sat 2026-02-14) – with the MSKv Project Group

“We pray for the participants of the Munich Security Conference, high-ranking decision-makers and opinion leaders from all over the world, that they may promote peace through dialogue. We ask for God’s assistance for the people who, through no fault of their own, must endure great suffering in the world’s crisis regions. Bless us, God, so that we ourselves may live in peace and become true partners for our neighbors.”

The individual prayer times are organized by religious orders, aid organizations, spiritual communities, churches of the ACK Munich, associations, and initiatives.

Date of “Prayer Chain”: Sat 2026-02-14, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Prayer Hour by MSKv & pax christi: Sat 2026-02-14, 4:00 PM

Location: Bürgersaal Unterkirche, Neuhauserstraße 14, Munich

Information and further offerings for “Living Peace – Prayer for the Munich Security Conference” can be found on the website of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, with an explicit reference to the event featuring our conference observers Dr. Inga Blum and Natalia Jagolski:Praying for Peace

Prayer for Peace (Sat 2026-02-14) – with the MSKv Project Group Read More »

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