European Peace Conference about Perpetrator-Victim Dynamics (Amsterdam, July 21-30, 2025)

“We are not at war, but not at peace either,” spoke the new NATO Chief, Mark Rutte, at his inauguration speech. Another warning he gave to civil society in member states was: “If you want peace, prepare for war.” While Europe is at a crossroad (from the middle to extreme politics, from nuanced to black-and-white thinking, from solutions addressing global climate change to placing one’s own people first), can and should we turn the tide? Reflections on our human nature may help us find sensible ways forward.

In this year’s peace conference, the first of its kind, both academics and practitioners will seek ways to describe perpetrator-victim dynamics in our everyday life. With guest lectures, workshops, and personal reflections, the latest expertise in the field of war and peace will be put forward. Together, but each for oneself, we will discover how perpetrator-victim dynamics run through our lives, families, and politics. Can we get a grasp on these social fundaments of humanity? And: will it save our souls in dark times?

Location:
Amsterdam, NL

Date:
July 21-30, 2025

* with an onboarding interview

“Since I was about 6 years old I have been dreaming of organizing peace conferences. This is the first one of its kind. It will bring together experts who seek to speak about unconscious processes of war and peace.”

(Oscar Westra van Holthe)

Conference Program

Day 1 & 2

Human nature

The first two days will be lectures and workshops about the origins of perpetrator-victim dynamics.

  • How we all know about them
  • Being sane in a crazy world?
  • Bad examples are copied too
  • How we internalize the anger
  • How we externalize our anger

Oscar’s transference model will be introduced.

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Day 3 & 4

The eternal dance

These days will be about how we switch between perpetrator and victim roles within relationships. 

  • The PV dynamics within ourselves
  • The roles between different actors
  • Constructive vs destructive actions
  • The fuel that keeps the drama going
  • The continuous role switching/dance

Oscar’s lemniscate model will be introduced.

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Day 5

The growing gap

These days are about how we grow apart and get stuck into polarized perpetrator and victim roles.

  • Why specialization is efficient
  • Why we humans get polarized
  • What makes us stuck in conflict
  • Two worlds apart: healthy or not?
  • How histories and paradoxes help

Oscar’s yin-yang model will be introduced.

Guest Lecturer

To be announced

Guest Lecturer

To be announced

Day 6

Deepening conflicts

This day is about how conflicts can escalate. How can they deepen the already existing differences?

  • Loops of escalation
  • Please don’t try to fix it
  • Is love indeed the answer?
  • Why we get stuck in turf wars
  • How we do each other justice?

Oscar’s propellor model will be introduced.

Guest Lecturer

To be announced

Guest Lecturer

To be announced

Day 7

Power play everywhere?

Today is about how we fight for morality.

  • Competing in and out-groups
  • The way up or the way down
  • Extremists on the left & right
  • Conflicts quickly turning ugly
  • How to slow down escalation

Oscar’s competition model will be introduced.

Guest Lecturer

To be announced

Guest Lecturer

To be announced

Day 8 & 9

Framed and cancelled

Today is about how we do each other injustice.

  • Being right vs getting it right
  • Framing ourselves and others
  • Evil is on the other side, not here
  • Maximize innocence, minimize guilt
  • The tragedy of being misrepresented

Oscar’s framing model will be introduced.

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Guest Lecturer

TBA

Guest Lecturer

TBA


Day 10

The way forward

The last day will be about ‘so, what now?’

  • Neutrality after all?
  • Setting boundaries
  • The middle ground
  • Resolution moves
  • Future directions

With help of Oscar’s systemic models introduced during the conference, we will together formulate ways out destructive perpetrator-victim dynamics.

Program schedule

9:00-10:00

10:30-12:30

13:00-14:00

14:30-16:30

17:00-18:00

20:00-22:30

Theme introduction

Reflection workshop

Expert guest lecture 1 *

Skills training workshop

Expert guest lecture 2 *

Evening activity (optional)

* We like to bring surprise guest speakers to the conference as well. These will not be announced but will provide us their unique insights into the politics of war, therapy with perpetrators and victims, and so on.

Purchase your conference ticket

Online participation (€ 5,000)

€ 2,500

Online participation

Onboarding interview

Online module access

Downloadable resources

Certificate of completion

Live participation (€ 9,500)

€ 5,500

Live participation

Guest lectures with Q&A

Skills training workshops

Grow your expert network

Everything from online

Sponsor package (€ 25,000)

€ 9,500

Send any one colleague

Sponsor mention in mail

Product placement(s)

Website referral link(s)

Sponsor badge at event

Unsure yet? We can reserve you a seat without strings attached.

Book here an onboarding interview. Afterwards, you can decide if this is something for you.

Do you want to speak at or contribute to the conference?

Please e-mail Oscar directly at oscar [at] westravanholthe.com for such requests.

Are finances a hurdle for you? Please get in touch!

Please e-mail us at support [at] oscarwestravanholthe.com for special student and assistance rates.

 

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