Athena Webinar Series "Board of Peace: Might Makes Right, Again? – Inquiries on the Current Shaping of Global Governance"
On 17 November 2025, the UN Security Council adopted Res. 2801, which represents a point of no return in the “governance of peace”.
On the one hand, the Resolution stands out for its procedural content, as it does not refer to the UN Charter or to previous Security Council resolutions on the Palestinian issue, as is customary practice, but instead cites the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict” of 25 September 2025 and “the Historic Trump Declaration for Lasting Peace and Prosperity” of 13 October 2025, as well as the constructive role played by the USA, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye in facilitating the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, the Resolution sets out the process for establishing the “Board of Peace” (BoP): an entity endowed with international legal personality for the reconstruction of Gaza in accordance with the aforementioned “Comprehensive Plan”. As Trump declared during the BoP’s first meeting, “this Board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created in the history of the world”. While the impact of this body has not entirely manifested itself yet, it has already raised significant questions about the extent of its relevance in global governance and the strategies for peace-making.
Indeed, the creation of this new entity represents a watershed with respect to the international legal order established after the Second World War and raises important new questions that we must attempt to address. The aim of this Webinar Series launched by Athena is, therefore, to bring certain issues to the foyer and examine them with experts. The common thread that will run through these meetings will be the role of law and politics in power dynamics.
The main issues that will be explored include:
• The legal personality of the BoP, the ways in which internal rules are established (starting with those that define conditions for admission and exclusion) and the decision-making processes therein;
• The role of the UN and its interaction with the BoP.
• The dichotomy between “war” and “peace” as emerging from different perspectives, inside and outside the BoP;
• The BoP as a result of the rupture within the international order based on multilateralism;
• The role of the EU in a post-multilateral scenario.
Schedule of Webinars:
Webinar 1 – What is the Board of Peace? Issues Surrounding Its Legality and Nature
Date: 5 June 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm CET
• Greetings and Introduction to the Webinar Series Project: Micol Pignataro – University of Bologna, Department of Legal Studies; Athena’s Journal Manager
• Chair: Aytekin Kaan Kurtul – University of Huddersfield, School of Law; Athena’s Journal Manager
• Speakers:
Evelyn Anoya – Former Senior Legal Advisor and Director of Judicial Services at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Andrea Knapp – University of Potsdam, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Webinar 2 – What ‘Peace’ in the Board of Peace?
Date: 12 June 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm CET
• Chair: Martino Tognocchi – University of Pavia, Department of Political and Social Sciences; Athena’s Journal Manager
• Speakers:
Murad Idris – University of Michigan, LSA Political Science
Basem Kharma – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Linguistic and Cultural Studies
• Scheduled Intervention:
Iryna Zhyrun – National Research University – Higher School of Economics
Webinar 3 – Insight into the Board of Peace from an International and EU Law Perspective
Date: 24 June 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm CET
• Chair: Luigi Sammartino – Athena’s Journal Manager
• Speakers:
Joris Larik – Leiden University, Leiden University College The Hague and Europa Institute
Gian Maria Farnelli – University of Bologna, Department of Legal Studies
Mauro Gatti – University of Bologna, Department of Legal Studies
Susanna Villani – University of Bologna, Department of Legal Studies
Scientific Committee: Aytekin Kaan Kurtul, Micol Pignataro, Luigi Sammartino, Martino Tognocchi.
