Zeit zu reden - The Right to Resistance Under Suspicion of Terrorism

This panel explores the theoretical foundations and practical examples of (armed) resistance. What methods do revolutionaries use against a dictatorial regime in their own country, and how do these differ from anti-colonial liberation struggles? Against whom may violence be directed—who qualifies as a representative of an occupying power or a symbol of state repression? Lessons are drawn from history—from the French Revolution to the Northern Ireland conflict—and parallels are drawn between historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Yasser Arafat. When are leaders of resistance movements labeled terrorists, and when are they hailed as heroes? How do enemies of the state become Nobel Peace Prize laureates? The discussion also delves into ideology, religion, and power structures: What connects organizations like the Palestinian PFLP, the Irish IRA, the Kurdish PKK, and the Basque ETA? How can state and non-state terrorism be distinguished? And what sets Hezbollah apart from the Taliban, or Hamas from ISIS? 

This event is supported by the Schöpflin Stiftung, the Stiftung Mercator, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Postcode Lotterie. 

Panelists are: Helberg Kristin, Christoph Reuter, Dr. Dieter Reinisch, Prof. Helga Baumgarten and Prof. Christian Marxsen