Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies

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New article by Martin Leiner

Black Lives Matter - Activism for Reconciliation in a Divided Country

Since a policeman killed Michael Brown on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, the United States has experienced a new phase of dealing with the legacy of slavery, police violence, mass incarceration, and other forms of violence and discrimination against African Americans.[1] “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) became the general term for the social movement which created, supported, and inspired manifold activities that are all advocating for different forms of justice for people of color. Parts of the Republican party are building legal cases and making statements during electoral campaigns to stop the changes BLM is struggling for. Such strategies have resonated with voters, most recently in the Virginia gubernatorial election on November 3, 2021. The result of those struggles is that due to a lack of racial reconciliation, in 2021, America is a deeply divided society.

https://www.aicgs.org/publication/black-lives-matter/

Reconciliation Studies in Jena

The Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies (JCRS) was founded in July 2013, aiming to achieve theoretical understanding of the processes, measurements and practices relevant to fostering best-possible relationships in contexts affected by violence, atrocities, genocides, wars, dictatorships, segregation, enslavement and other crimes against humanity. Reconciliation Studies is a transdisciplinary and multiscale scientific field that focuses on individual, group, inter-group and political dynamics.

The JCRS looks at the dynamics of reconciliation processes for societies in conflict or transition, based on comparative international case studies. It addresses academic institutions and programs, as well as experts and scholars in the field of conflict transformation and peace studies.

The JCRS promotes a trans-disciplinary approach that integrates the fields of Theology, Philosophy, Religious science, Ethics, Psychology, Sociology, Political science, Economics, Law, Media studies, Art, Social geography and History. The JCRS also focuses on the role played in reconciliatory processes by practices like Trauma therapy, Public policy, Collective memory. The JCRS is based at Theological faculty of the FSU Jena.

The JCRS involves four areas of expertise:

Research, through the Graduate Programme "Religion Conflict Reconciliation" (RCR) and the DFG Project "Hearts of Flesh - Not Stone";
International and transdisciplinary Networks, including universities and NGOs from all over the world;
Manifold Events: Workshops, Conferences and the International Summer Schools "Societies in Transition";
Scientific Publications, including the series "Research in Peace and Reconciliation" (RIPAR).