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»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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International Munich Peace Conference 2026

This year’s Munich Peace Conference is themed “Against the Current of Violence”. Well-known participants are expected again, including Kristin Helberg, Deborah Feldman, Simon David Dressler, Dr. Shir Hever.

Last year’s most prominent speaker, Francesca Albanese, is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by three Belgian universities (Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp). An interesting development, considering that LMU had cancelled an event with Ms. Albanese at short notice in February 2025.

On Sunday, 2026-02-15, 11:00 AM, Fabian Scheidler will read from his book “Friedenstüchtig – Wie wir aufhören können, unsere Feinde selbst zu schaffen” (Peace-Capable – How We Can Stop Creating Our Own Enemies). Our current project newspaper features a book review by Christoph Steinbrink on page 15.

We invite you to once again give your attention to the Munich Peace Conference this year! MSKv will have an information stand.

Details on the program, venue, and online participation can be found here: friedenskonferenz.info

International Munich Peace Conference 2026 Read More »

Our Call for a Peace Demonstration on the Occasion of the MSC

In 2026, we will once again be calling for the Anti-Siko Demo with our own appeal: “By participating in the demonstration, we want to focus on creative and non-violent protest. We promote civil conflict resolution and the reallocation of armaments expenditure to a sustainable, civil security policy, as currently described by the “Rethinking Security” campaign in its positive scenario 2025-2040 “Europe’s Role for Peace in the World.””

As in recent years, we see this demonstration on the occasion of the Security Conference as a “peace signal from civil society”.

The full call: Demo call MSKv

Opening rally:
Sat, 14.02.2026, 13:00, Karlsplatz/Stachus.
Afterwards, peace chain through the pedestrian zone and demo procession at the same time.

Final rally:
approx. 15:00, Marienplatz.

More information about the demo “Stop the arms madness!”: Anti-Siko Demo

Our Call for a Peace Demonstration on the Occasion of the MSC Read More »

Peace Prayer of Religions

Joint Prayer for Peace and Understanding

The Peace Prayer of Religions is a central moment of reflection and collective pause as part of the Munich Peace Conference 2026. In a time of global crises, armed conflicts, and societal polarization, this interfaith prayer invites us to pause and collectively make a statement for peace, dialogue, and humanity.

Jews, Christians, Muslims, Bahá’ís, and Buddhists come together to pray for peace from their respective religious traditions. The Peace Prayer highlights spiritual diversity while emphasizing what is shared: the responsibility of all religions for non-violence, compassion, and respectful coexistence.

Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 6 PM | In-person

Hansa-Haus, Brienner Straße 39 (rear building), 80333 Munich
MVV: U2 Königsplatz station

 

Peace Prayer of Religions Read More »

MSKv Side Event 2026 – Rejected by the MSC.

Since 2015, we have been proposing side events as a space for reflection and learning for the international participants of the MSC. The result of the Munich Peace Meeting, which we organised in October 2025 and in which the MSC management actively participated, was ultimately not approved by the MSC. Therefore, our active participation this year is limited to the presence of our MSKv observers, who are invited to attend all events and happenings at the international venue Hotel Bayerischer Hof throughout the weekend.

MSKv-developed topic for 2026, rejected by MSC:
From Cyberwar to Cyberpeace – Designing AI fairly and reliably. Transforming new technologies into value-oriented instruments for peace, solidarity and a just world order.

Given today’s complexity and disintegration, mainstream diplomacy and politics demonstrate a worrying inability to overcome binary concepts such as “right/wrong”, “win/lose”, “West/East”, “North/South”, thereby reproducing (structural) violence. AI adds another layer of complexity, raises fundamental questions of humanity and is mostly regarded as a disruptive technology that is systemically geared towards the “digital divide” and limited to military, authoritarian technology. However, the UN, civil society, religions and ethical think tanks are looking for control mechanisms and AI parameters to address humanitarian challenges, conflicts and sustainable human security. This event invites the international MSC participants to use their human intelligence and sharpen their judgement. The experts of the side event will provide suggestions and promote reflection on what could be done to develop AI into an instrument for peace, justice and solidarity. The MSC participants will work in a careful didactic framework in which they will meet prominent international speakers with their background in diplomacy, politics, security or technology to advocate for standards and ethical guidelines for AI to protect a liberal, democratic international order.

Side Event 2025 (completed)

Press release for Side Event 2025

 

MSKv Side Event 2026 – Rejected by the MSC. Read More »

Our Munich Peace Meeting 2025

The 7th Munich Peace Meeting (MPM), initiated and organized by MSKv, took place on September 29 and October 21, 2025. Participants from the fields of peace studies, the peace movement, and peace work exchanged views with Dr. Benedikt Franke and other representatives of the MSC on current security and peace policy challenges.

Concrete proposals for the 2026 Security Conference were jointly developed. We are very curious to see what activities the MSC will derive from this.

A short report on the Munich Peace Meeting 2025 can be found here: MPM 2025

Our Munich Peace Meeting 2025 Read More »

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 »

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 »

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