"I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace." - Helen Keller

Communication is the central element in conflict resolution, either in conflict management, transformation or prevention. Nevertheless current findings in communication research do only play a minor role in conceptualising and evaluating such projects. This is what the project of Peace Communication intends to change. I wants to make existing theories of communication (on media as well as on face-to-face communication) productive for conflict resolution throughout all conflict stages and on all societal levels. The term of Peace Communication shall further provide an integrative framework for existing and future approaches in the field. It tries to capture the magnitude of communicative activities, its potentials and limitations, as well as its senders and receivers. It finally aims at developing a communicative model, illustrating how, by the means of communication, stable peace can be reached in regions, previously dominated by violent conflict. This aim shall be reached by:

• integrating approaches from peace-and conflict studies, communication sciences and social psychology
• establishing a close link between scientific theories and fieldwork
• the development of subordinate concepts to rebuild and strengthen societies and governmental institutions through the continuous inclusion of all sectors, especially civil society.