European Peace Conference on Perpetrator-Victim Dynamics
Location:
Date:
Conference: October 1 & 2, 2026
Workshops: October 5-9, 2026
Webinars: Jan-Sep, 2026
Who is the conference for?
Researchers, academics, and philosophers
Therapists, psychoanalysts, psychologists
Politicians, advocacy groups, trendwatchers
Journalists, writers, publishers, and media
Students, activists, non-profits, and citizens
Conference Program 2026
Day 1 – Panel discussions – October 1, 2026
Theme introduction | Panel pitches | Group discussion | Wrap-up
10:00-11:00
State of “War and Peace”
Topic | Is Europe’s deterrence strategy an act of violence?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
11:00-12:00
Intergenerational Violence
Topic | Does our European history of oppression repeat itself?
Pitch 1 | Linda Nooitmeer, former board member NiNsee (article)
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
13:00-14:00
Perpetrators in the spotlight
Topic | Are Europeans complicit in crimes against humanity?
Pitch 1 | Joandi Hartendorp, Holocaust & Slavery expert (article)
Pitch 2 | Prof. dr. Alette Smeulers, International Criminology (book)
14:00-15:00
Victims in the spotlight
Topic | Do Europeans only focus on victims when it suits them?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
15:00-16:00
Are we both victim and perpetrator?
Topic | Should Europeans strive for innocence in the age of war?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
16:00-17:00
Policy & research recommendations
Topic | How can we move forward from here?
Formulation host | TBA
Commitments host | TBA
19:00-21:30
| NEW | Sponsor & Speakers dinner *
* We are excited to host our very first sponsor and speakers dinner! Participants can sign up at extra costs when purchasing their ticket. Places are limited. Participant screening and background checks may be part of participant selection. The organizers reserve the right to refuse participants entry to the dinner at any time, without a refund.
“Peace is a choice that can be made despite today’s raging conflicts, the trampling of international law, violent extremism, terrorism, and transnational crimes.” – UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Day 2 – Panel discussions – October 2, 2026
Theme introduction | Panel pitches | Group discussion | Wrap-up
10:00-11:00
Debates in democracy turning evil
Topic | Do Europeans feed cycles of violence through political debate?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
11:00-12:00
Strategies of splitting and projection
Topic | How do Europeans deal with their anger and sadness?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
13:00-14:00
Focus on in-group power play
Topic | How do Europeans compete for a hero and victim status?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
14:00-15:00
Focus on between-group power play
Topic | How do Europeans turn violent by their presupposed innocence?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
15:00-16:00
Framing, blaming and naming
Topic | How do Europeans devalue and demonise their enemies?
Panel pitch speaker 1 | TBA
Panel pitch speaker 2 | TBA
16:00-17:00
Policy & research recommendations
Topic | How can we move forward from here?
Formulation host | TBA
Commitments host | TBA
Workshop Program 2026
Theory and practice | Presentations | Reflections & exercises | Individual & group work formats
Day 1 – Transgenerational violence – October 5, 2026
How do war, genocide, and slavery travel through time? Participants will reflect upon their own family patterns. What makes societies violent? You will learn to work with the intergenerational transference model.
Day 2 – Perpetrator and victim roles – October 6, 2026
How can victims become perpetrators? Participants will reflect upon their inner perpetrator and victim sides. What makes us switch between both roles? You will learn to work with the infinite role exchange model.
Day 3 – Polarisation and Frustration – October 7, 2026
Why do we get stuck in perpetrator and victim roles? Participants will reflect upon their projections. What makes us see the world in binary camps? You will learn to work with the yin-yang polarisation model.
Day 4 – Conflict escalation strategies – October 8, 2026
How do conflicts escalate? Participants will reflect upon how they may compete for attention and resources. What is going on? You will learn to work with the propellor escalation model and the competition model.
Day 5 – Framing, blaming and naming – October 9, 2026
Why do we frame, blame, and name each other? Participants will reflect upon how they contribute towards misrepresenting ‘the other’. What benefits does it bring? You will learn to work with the framing model.
“We are not at war, but not at peace either.”
– NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Monthly Preparation Webinars
Host and introductions | Oscar Westra van Holthe | Founder European Peace Conference
Name
TBA
Date
Time
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Time
Name
TBA
Date
Time
Prof. dr. Alette Smeulers
April 1, 2026
CET 20:00-21:15
You will be invited for upcoming webinars as soon as you sign up for the conference program.
“If you want peace, prepare for war.” (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
– Roman historian Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus in De Re Militari
Ambassadors and volunteers
This conference is not possible without its ambassadors and volunteers.
TBA
TBA
Role
TBA
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TBA
Role
Do you want to share ideas with other academics and practitioners from the fields of sociology, criminology, philosophy, and politics?
Get your tickets now
Note: You will be forwarded to oscarwestravanholthe.com.
Online
(October 1 & 2, 2026)
Earlybird ticket: €150
✦ Online 2-day attendance
✦ Participate with zoom
✦ Certificate of attendance
In person
(October 1 & 2, 2026)
Earlybird ticket: €250
✦ Live event 2-day attendance
✦ Join the group discussions
✦ Grow your expert network
Online
(October 5-9, 2026)
Earlybird ticket: €350
✦ Online 5-day attendance
✦ Do the exercises at home
✦ Certificate of attendance
In person
(October 5-9, 2026)
Earlybird ticket: €550
✦ Live 5-day attendance
✦ The full group experience
✦ Certificate of completion
Note: Once signed up for the conference, you will be automatically invited for the upcoming webinars. Single-day tickets are not available this year.