Main Content

Postcolonial Hierarchies in Peace and Conflict

The network investigates how historically formed postcolonial hierarchies manifest themselves in contemporary conflict dynamics and what implications this has for sustainable conflict transformation in the future. What role do historically generated postcolonial hierarchies play in contemporary conflict dynamics? How do postcolonial hierarchies persist in contemporary concepts and practices of reducing violence, of peacebuilding and of conflict management? How do postcolonial hierarchies manifest themselves in epistemologies and
knowledge production in peace and conflict studies?  These questions are explored along three main research foci, namely (a) the dynamics of violence, (b) security governance and peacebuilding, and (c) transformative justice. In Marburg, the focus is on research projects on historically grown colonial hierarchies, on the role of (post-)colonial continuities for security practices, on gender justice and on transformative justice.

In various formats, the network organises cross-location exchange between the institutions of the joint project and partner institutions in the Global South. In the Think Lab, conceptual questions on postcolonial perspectives in peace and conflict research are further developed together with international researchers. International networking is promoted through the network's visiting scholar programme. Within the network, the research colloquium and the Virtual Graduate School serve to further the exchange about research projects as well as qualification. Another strong focus of the network is on diverse forms of science communication. An integral part of this is a Virtual Encyclopedia, which will present the central research results, methodological developments and theoretical innovations of the network and in particular of partners in the Global South in a format that is freely accessible worldwide. The network's research will also be discussed with important dialogue partners in politics, peace-related development cooperation and civil society.

The network "Postcolonial Hierarchies in Peace & Conflict" is a collaborative project of the Arnold-Bergstraesser Institut (Freiburg), the University of Bayreuth, the University of Erfurt, and the Philipps University Marburg. It is an interdisciplinary research initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Duration: 2022-2026
Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Marburg Team: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Bonacker, Prof. Dr. Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Dr. Selbi Durdiyeva, Sophie Falschebener, Prof. Dr. Anika Oettler, Prof. Dr. Miquel Pellicer, Prof. Dr. Benedikt Stuchtey, Dr. Tareq Sydiq