Wilhelm Kempf

Who is Wilhelm Kempf?

Wilhelm Kempf is an Austrian born psychologist and peace researcher who has made significant contributions to theoretical psychology, psychological methodology and peace research. Alongside of Johan Galtung, Kempf is one of the founders of the concept of peace journalism, which he, in contrast to Galtung, however, does not conceive of as a form of advocacy journalism, but rather understands as a trans-disciplinary research program which has as its object the possibilities of and limits to maintaining journalistic quality norms during war and crisis situations.

Kempf graduated in sociology from the Institute of Advanced Studies, earned a PhD in psychology, philosophy and statistics at the University of Vienna and achieved his postdoctoral qualification for a professorship in psychology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Immediately upon completing his Habilitation he was called to a chair in psychological methodology by the University of Konstanz, Germany, where he founded the Peace Research Group Konstanz, which he has directed up until today. Since 2002 he has edited the trans-disciplinary peace research journal conflict & communication online.