Peace negotiations thrive on pragmatic solutions

Discussion evening on the Peace of Westphalia

At the invitation of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Legal Unity and Pluralism” (EViR) and the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” at the University of Münster, researchers discussed on 22 June) the manifold consequences of the Peace of Westphalia 375 years ago and its implications today.

The well-attended discussion evening at the LWL Museum für Kunst und Kultur in Münster shed light on the peace treaty 375 years ago from a historical and legal-historical perspective. Taking part in the discussion were historian Prof. Dr. Claire Gantet (Fribourg), legal scholar Prof. Dr. Christian Hillgruber (Bonn), historian Prof. Dr. Christoph Kampmann (Marburg), and legal
historian Prof. Dr. Peter Oestmann (Münster).

Summarising the discussion, moderator Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ludwig (Münster) said: “On the whole, the Peace of Westphalia was a success story and created new ways of dealing with conflict”. The panel had emphasised that, when the negotiations began in 1645, it would have been quite possible for the parties to continue fighting. However, at that point in time, all parties considered it more favourable to end the war than to continue it. Thus, 109 diplomatic legations with conflicting ideas of peace came together in Münster and Osnabrück.

Pragmatic solutions had to be found to overcome the massive loss of trust on all sides: for the negotiations themselves and for the regulations in the treaty. Questions of religious truth were excluded, as was the question of war guilt. The podium disputed whether the latter is also appropriate for today’s conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. But there was consensus that the Peace of Westphalia cannot offer any direct guidance for action today. However, considering the historical example could inspire us to keep looking for new paths to peace.

Watch the recording of the event:

Discussion evening "Wie sicher ist der Frieden?"

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