Conference at Andrássy University Budapest “Crises, Conflict and Reconciliation in the Western Balkans”

Conference at Andrássy University Budapest “Crises, Conflict and Reconciliation in the Western Balkans”

Andrássy University Budapest hosted the international conference “Crises, Conflict and Reconciliation in the Western Balkans” on 30 October 2025 as part of its Changing Orders Research Programme- a project within the framework of the Second Swiss-Hungarian Cooperation Programme supported by the Swiss Contribution with the national co-financing of the Hungarian Government.

The event brought together leading academics, researchers, and civil society representatives from across the region to assess ongoing political challenges and explore new approaches to reconciliation.

In his opening remarks, Rector Prof. Zoltán Tibor Pállinger emphasised the importance of moving beyond the persistent negative image of the Western Balkans by highlighting the region’s achievements in conflict resolution and post-war recovery. Conference organiser Dr. Christina E. Griessler underlined that reconciliation requires both an honest engagement with the past and a critical look at current political tensions.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Nemanja Džuverović (University of Belgrade), who presented recent findings of the Balkan Peace Index. The index shows stable “negative peace” across the region but highlights slow progress in “positive peace,” particularly in political pluralism and institutional trust.

Four thematic panels examined the political, social, and historical dimensions of conflict and reconciliation. Speakers discussed EU accession fatigue in North Macedonia, entrenched ethnopolitical divisions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and structural crises in Serbia. Further contributions explored the limits of transitional justice, the role of collective memory, and the challenges of addressing intergenerational trauma.

The conference concluded with a roundtable of civil society organisations from Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Representatives highlighted their ongoing work in human rights protection, peace education, and regional youth engagement. They stressed the need for sustained political and financial support, as well as public spaces that encourage open dialogue about the past.

Closing the event, Dr. Griessler announced that a publication compiling the conference’s contributions will follow.
For more information about the event, click on the link below:
https://aub.eu/universitaet/nachrichten/conference-report-on-crises-conflict-and-reconciliation/