Conflict Resolution Through Participatory Processes

The construction of the West Runway at Frankfurt Airport was accompanied by massive public opposition and culminated in a violent escalation that resulted in the deaths of two police officers. When plans for an additional runway emerged in the late 1990s, the urgent question arose of how such conflicts could be avoided in the future.

In his lecture, Johann-Dietrich Wörner outlines the background of this conflict and the mediation process that was initiated in response, later evolving into a structured dialogue process. The aim was not to reach conventional compromises, but to develop solutions that sought to take different—often conflicting—interests into account simultaneously. The lecture provides insights into an early and pioneering approach to constructive conflict resolution in large-scale infrastructure projects and reflects on its relevance for contemporary planning and participation processes.

Johann-Dietrich Wörner is a civil engineer and a leading figure in German and European science and research. He studied civil engineering in Berlin and Darmstadt and initially worked in an engineering firm in Frankfurt. This was followed by a one-year research stay in Japan focusing on the seismic safety of nuclear power plants, after which he completed his doctorate.

Johann-Dietrich Wörner was Professor at TU Darmstadt and later served as its President. He subsequently held key leadership positions in national and international research organizations, including Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA). He is President of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) and Scientific Director of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS).