KAAD Regional Seminar "Reconstruction after the War: Trouble Spot Middle East" in Berlin

|   Nahost, Aktuelles, Seminare

The seminar brought together different perspectives from various countries in the Middle East and opened up a space for exchange, reflection and shared orientation on issues of reconstruction and social renewal.

From November 11 to 14, 2025, 34 current and former KAAD scholar and Cusanuswerk scholars came together in Berlin for a seminar that combined political, social and spiritual perspectives on developments in the Middle East. The focus was on the reconstruction processes in Syria and the humanitarian challenges in the Gaza Strip. The participants contributed experiences and voices from Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Philippines and other countries and found a space in Berlin to bring their different contexts, perceptions and questions into conversation with one another. The seminar was led by Nils Fischer and Santra Sontowski from the Near and Middle East Department and was accompanied spiritually by Fr. Prof. Dr. Thomas Eggensperger OP .

After an introduction to the seminar topic, the focus shifted to fundamental political and social issues of reconstruction. Nils Fischer gave an insight into the situation in Syria from a German and church perspective and outlined the challenges facing state and civil society actors. KAAD scholar Lovely S. Bernardo broadened the perspective by analyzing the relationship between international humanitarian law, local governance and the geopolitical dynamics of the Israel-Iran conflict. With his contribution "Gaza yesterday, today and tomorrow", KAAD scholar Iyad Saba then addressed the complex developments in the Gaza Strip and the far-reaching effects on the population, infrastructure and social structures.

Mariam Salloum, advisor at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), then presented the "New Beginning for Syria" platform. The ensuing discussion highlighted the link between political, infrastructural and social factors in reconstruction as well as the relevance of reliable cooperation between local actors, international partners and the expertise of the diaspora. Knowledge transfer, networking and cultural mediation were particularly emphasized as long-term foundations for successful transformation processes.

In the afternoon, the group visited the German Bundestag. In a discussion with Sabrina Sperlich, coordinator of the International Parliamentary Scholarship Program for the Arabic-speaking countries, and in an exchange with members of the parliamentary groups of the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East and Egypt, political perspectives on German engagement in Syria were discussed, as were the experiences of the scholars in their work for their countries of origin. At the same time, the participants gained insights into parliamentary working methods and international dialog formats in discussions with members of the Bundestag. The discussions made it clear how important personal encounters, political exchange and mutual understanding are for international relations.
The day came to a spiritual conclusion with a church service at the Edith Stein Catholic Student Community, where the group was subsequently welcomed.

The following day initially brought further regional perspectives on reconstruction processes. A central component of the seminar was the workshop on "Peacebuilding and Reconciliation" with KAAD alumnus Talal Zeidan from the Berghof Foundation. Based on his expert input, the participants used a case study to develop approaches to conflict management and social transformation. The combination of political analyses, psychological dimensions and structural framework conditions led to their own thematic approaches and initial project ideas, which made the interdisciplinary composition of the group visible.

Berlin itself became a learning space for deep historical layers in the course of the seminar. Under the guidance of Dipl.-Geogr. Peter Wawrzyniak , the participants explored the traces of reconstruction after the Second World War in an urban geography excursion. The visible fractures, the ongoing transformation processes and the historical wounding of Berlin opened up new perspectives on parallels and differences to the challenges in the scholars contexts of origin.

In a concluding reflection, the group exchanged experiences and discussed how the insights gained could be fruitful in the respective countries and fields of work. The seminar made it clear how valuable a space is in which professional expertise, personal life stories and spiritual orientation come together.

A speaker stands in front of a screen and gives a lecture. The title "Necessity and Proportionality" can be seen on the screen. Several participants sit at tables and listen. There are drinking bottles, glasses and documents on the table.
Group picture in the KSG Edith Stein.
Participants sit in a seminar group in a bright room. They are listening to a person who is speaking. There are water bottles, cups and notes on the table.
Group photo on a staircase in the Bundestag.
A group is sitting in a room in the Bundestag with a large architectural model in the middle. Two people stand at the front and speak to the group, which listens attentively.
Group photo in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
Two people present a poster with notes and colored markings. One of them speaks, the other stands next to it and listens. The poster hangs on a flipchart.
Four participants are standing on a balcony in the Bundestag with a view of another government building. They smile into the camera, it is already dusk.

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