Events

How are we to understand conflicts around infrastructural mega-developments in global frontier spaces? Can infrastructures forge peace? Large infrastructure corridors integrate ports, roads and railways with agricultural lands, energy systems and tourism spaces in remote areas. Infrastructural mega-plans like the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative are globally discussed, yet their local imprint is often overlooked, and local populations tend to be rendered invisible. Planners project frontier spaces as “empty”. Brochures of prospectors and investors do not mention the contestations connected to the implementation of such schemes. Grand projects stir high hopes and deep-seated fears among the residents in the infrastructure corridors.
The conference asked how we are to understand conflicts surrounding infrastructural mega-developments in global frontier spaces – and how these infrastructures may also be used to forge peace. For this purpose, BICC brought together 90 international academics from various disciplines and practitioners, policymakers and activists. 
Please find the programme of the conference here.
Below you will find the documentation of the conference.
Keynote Speech by Dr Charis Enns, The University of Manchester: The Coloniality of Mega Infrastructures at Global Frontiers and its Consequences for Dynamics of Peace and Conflict.

First Session: Conflict Dynamics in Development Corridors

Breakout Group 1: Interests of International Investors in Mega Infrastructures and Conflict Dynamics
Input Paper by Dr Pascal Abb, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt
Presentation by Prof Dr Jana Hönke, University of Bayreuth
Breakout Group 2: National Visions of Mega Infrastructures and Local Contestations
Presentation by Dr Gediminas Lesutis, University of Amsterdam
Presentation by Prof Dr Kennedy Mkutu, United States International University, Nairobi

Second Session: Overcoming Violence Associated with Environmental Infrastructures (Energy Projects, Dams, Conservation)

Breakout Group 1: Energy Infrastructures: Can Renewables Break the Resource Curse?
Presentation by Dr Benjamin Schütze, Arnold Bergsträsser Institute (ABI), Freiburg
Breakout group 2: Dams-The Violence Inherent in Disasters
Presentation by Professor Dr Ian Baird, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Presentation by Professor Dr Bruno Milanez, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Breakout group 3: Conservation Infrastructures—(How) Can They Contribute to Peace?
Presentation by Professor Dr Bram Büscher, University of Wageningen

Presentation by Johannes Dittmann, University of Bonn
Reflection by the Conference Team
A video documentation of the conference can be found here