The terms peace and sustainability have become two of the most frequently used keywords across a wide range of disciplines. This is a reflection of the intrinsic relationship between the two concepts. Following the success of the Kyoto Peace Conference in 2021 and 2023, we are pleased to announce that the third edition of this series of biannual conventions will be held next year in Kyoto.

DIVIDED SOCIETIES is the theme of this year’s conference, and it intends to prioritise debates that comprehensively analyse conflictual situations of any nature, identifying their roots, their developments, as well as past and present efforts to achieve constructive settlement together with a future plan for peace-keeping. The analyses can be purely theoretical, purely empirical, or a combination of the two. We encourage intellectual exercises such as academic debates, as well as confrontation of actual projects on the ground.

The Kyoto Peace Conference wants to be a collective of actors of peace and sustainability working in all fields of development, and in different regions of the world. The aim is to bridge the gap between rigorous academic and scientific research outputs, and implementation of policies on the ground. Envisioned as a unique venue to leverage the best achievements in higher education, policy making, and the social sector, the initiative is based on a simple observation: the lack of sustainable solutions to glocal problems inevitably results in conflict. It seems we are too often deceived by the increasingly accepted misconception that peace is either the suspension of war, or the cessation of a conflictual situation. We should all re-gauge this understanding and instead focus on the concept that peace is made up of all those sustainable solutions that help curb tensions before they arise.

Peace and security

Sustainable development

Environmental governance

Education

Gender equality

Focussing on these five major themes (and all of their sub-topics), the goal of the conference is to produce ready-to-use inter-disciplinary results. These will be collected into a prioritised list and will be given preferential access to funding for development into non-purely academic projects. For this purpose, the conference is organised as to allow teams of practitioners of different fields to work collaboratively towards a single project in their area of expertise. 

The Kyoto Peace Conference is not a purely academic conference, and we invite practitioners of peace and sustainability from all backgrounds and all different walks of life. Although there will be technical presentations by researchers and policy makers, we expect and strongly encourage submissions of a wide variety of works, including but not limited to commentaries of photographic projects or audio-video documentaries. The conference will act as a magnet for new ideas and an incubator for innovative projects. We strongly advocate for interdisciplinarity across projects, and we invite to submit proposals not clustered around a single field.

The conference will follow this format:

‣ Keynotes (by invitation)
‣ Round-tables
‣ Panels
‣ Brain dates
‣ Booth display

Brain dates are a unique feature of the conference. Interested participants will fill out an online profile (available after registration) listing what beneficial knowledge they are willing to share or what know-how they are interested in gaining by interacting face to face with one or two other participants at a time. Those looking to learn browse knowledge offers and then book 30-minute appointments with others based on their interests. At the venue, there will be specific places allocated for brain dates, where you will be able to have informal meetings while having your coffee or tea.

Booth display will also be available at the venue. Interested contributors are invited to reach the committee at kyotopeaceconference2025@ipso.ngo

Although in person participation will be given priority, the conference will still be hybrid, in order to encourage participation from the Global South. Physical venues are the International Conference Halls at the Kyoto University Clock Tower Centennial Hall, on the main campus of Kyoto University.

For information on formats and more technical details proceed to the proposal page.