Upcoming Conference - Ending War: History, Theory, and Lessons

Ending War: History, Theory, and Lessons

If war is continuation of policies by other means, when is then the time, in the absence of decisive victory, to cash in or cut losses? Can a protracted war remain a “good” war? And when does armistice become an option worse than perpetuation of warfare?

Held at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy on May 6 and 7, 2024, this conference is a brain-storming event in which world-leading historians and scholars of international affairs and wars, to reassess select case studies from the past – with an eye on understanding how protracted and unwinnable wars were brought to conclusion.

The main mission of the conference is to discuss on how to marry diplomacy to longer-term strategic horizons, how to navigate the minefield of domestic and international politics, emotional and ethical indignation, and how to recognize economic and military limitations. The main objective of the discussion is to inform sound strategy.

This conference is cohosted by Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe, the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs and The Cold War Studies Project at the London School of Economics.

There will be a public panel on Zoom on May 7, 8:00 AM Eastern time. Click here for more information and to register.