Staff

Dr Esther Meininghaus

Dr Esther Meininghaus

Senior Researcher


contact by phone

+49 228 911 96-28

contact by e-mail

esther.meininghaus(at)bicc.de

Expertise

Research Profile


From the perspective of political anthropology, my research currently focuses on ‘international’ vs. ‘local’ conceptualisations of war, conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace. My geographical focus is on Syria, where I have worked with Syrians identifying with the opposition since 2011, as well as on Iraq. I also teach as an associate lecturer at the University of Bonn.

Research Topics / Key Expertise


Local concepts (conflict, conflict resolution, reconciliation, peace); epistemology; anthropology; peace negotiations; HDP nexus; decoloniality 

Countries Of Expertise


  • Syria,
  • Iraq

Professional Career

After completing her PhD in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Manchester (2013), Esther taught at the University of Manchester before joining bicc as a Senior Researcher in 2016. She also teaches as an associate lecturer at the University of Bonn. Esther is currently heading the project “How can the HDP nexus succeed? NGOs between humanitarian aid, development and peacebuilding”. The focus of her current research lies on local concepts of conflict, conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace and the question as to how these concepts differ from Global Northern understandings of these terms. 

Important Publications

bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

Meaningful political participation. Lessons learnt from UN mediation in Afghanistan and Syria

BICC , Bonn (2021)

Open
Journal Article

Meininghaus, E.

Humanitarianism in intra-state conflict: aid inequality and local governance in government- and opposition-controlled areas in the Syrian war

Taylor & Francis , London (2016)

Open
Book

Meininghaus, E.

Creating consent in Ba'thist Syria: Women and welfare in a totalitarian state

I.B. Tauris , London (2016)

Open

Publications

bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Bolaños Suárez, R., & Haidara, B., & Kemmerling, B., & Müller-Koné, M., & Al-Khalil, A., & Al-Khadhra, R., & Behrens, M., & Eichmann, F., & Grosz-Ngaté, M., & Halfpap, F., & Hansen, R., & Hoerz, T., & Karagnara, D., & James, S., & Rivas, A., & Sow, A., & Toyka, R.

Cómo descolonizar el nexo entre la acción humanitaria, el desarrollo y la consolidación de la paz?

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
bicc report

Müller-Koné, M., & Meininghaus, E., & Kemmerling, E., & Haidara, B.

Comment le nexus Humanitaire–Développement-Paix peut-il fonctionner à partir de la base?

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Bolaños Suárez, R., & Haidara, B., & Kemmerling, B., & Müller-Koné, M., & Al-Khalil, A., & Al-Khadhra, R., & Behrens, M., & Eichmann, F., & Grosz-Ngaté, M., & Halfpap, F., & Hansen, R., & Hoerz, T., & Karagnara, D., & James, ., & Rivas, A., & Sow, A., & Toyka, R.

Comment décoloniser le Nexus humanitaire–développment–paix?

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Bolaños Suárez, R., & Haidara, B., & Kemmerling, B., & Müller-Koné, M., & Al-Khalil, A., & Al-Khadhra, R., & Behrens, M., & Eichmann, F., & Grosz-Ngaté, M., & Halfpap, F., & Hansen, R., & Hoerz, T., & Karagnara, D., & James, S., & Rivas, A., & Sow, A., & Toyka, R.

How to Decolonise the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus?

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
Journal article

Mutschler, M., & Bales, M., & Meininghaus, E.

The Impact of Precision Strike Technology on the Warfare of Non-State Armed Groups: Case Studies on Daesh and the Houthis

Routledge , London (2024)

Open
Report

Meininghaus, E.

Spotlight on Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Implementation in Iraq

BICC , Bonn (2024)

Open
bicc report

Müller-Koné, M., & Meininghaus, E., & Kemmerling, B., & Haidara, B.

How can the HDP Nexus Work from the Bottom Up?

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open

Other

Yildirim-Schlüsing, C., & Meininghaus, E.

Yazidis in Germany: Don’t Deport - Negotiate

(2023)

Open
Book chapter

Schetter, C., & Haidara, B., & Meininghaus, E., & Yildirim-Schlüsing, C., & Debiel, T., & Dombrowski, S., & Noesselt, N., & Radtke, K., & Saalfeld, J., & Schmitz, J., & Weller, D., & Vüllers, J.

Nachhaltiger Frieden: Verwundbarkeit und Resilienz im Zeichen multipler Krisen

transcript , Bielefeld (2023)

Open
Other

Şahin-Mencütek, Z., & Meininghaus, E.

Syrian Refugee Returns, Reintegration Experiences and Risks

(2023)

Open

Other publications

Meininghaus, E., & Schlüsing, C.

Translocality in War: Why Does it Matter?

London School of Economics Middle East Blog , London (2021)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

Meaningful political participation. Lessons learnt from UN mediation in Afghanistan and Syria

BICC , Bonn (2021)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Mielke, K., & Meininghaus, E.

Engaging refugees and migrants as peace advocates. How Germany can contribute to peace in Syria and Afghanistan

BICC , Bonn (2021)

Open

Journal Article

Meininghaus, E., & Schlüsing, C.

War in Syria: The translocal dimension of fighter mobilization

Taylor & Francis (2020)

Open
Journal Article

Mielke, K., & Mutschler, M., & Meininghaus, E.

For a dynamic approach to stabilization

(2020)

Open

bicc Working paper

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

Beyond Doha and Geneva: Peacemaking engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany

BICC , Bonn (2019)

Open
Book chapter

Bethke, F., & Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K., & Mutschler, M., & Schetter, C., & Wirkus, L.

Bewaffnete Konflikte: Stabilisierung darf keine Interessenpolitik sein

LIT Verlag , Berlin (2019)

Open
bicc Working paper

Christ, S., & Meininghaus, E., & Röing, T.

“All Day Waiting” – Causes of conflict in refugee shelters in Germany

BICC , Bonn (2019)

Open

Other publications

Meininghaus, E., & Kühn, M.

Syria: Humanitarian access dilemmas (Welthungerhilfe Policy Brief October 2018).

Welthungerhilfe , Berlin/Bonn (2018)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

Situated sustainability: A research programme for conflict-affected settings and beyond

BICC , Bonn (2018)

Open
Other publications

Röing, T., & Meininghaus, E., & Christ, S.

Kein Anker für Schutzsuchende – eine Stellungnahme zu den geplanten AnkER-Zentren. FluchtforschungsBlog.

(2018)

Open
Book chapter

von Boemcken, M., & Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K., & Schetter, C., & Schlüsing, C., & Trancart, C., & Wirkus, L.

Bewaffnete Konflikte: Deutsche Stabilisierungspolitik auf dem Prüfstand

LIT Verlag , Berlin (2018)

Open
Book chapter

Debiel, T., & Hippler, J., & Meininghaus, E., & Schetter, C., & Schlüsing, C.

Fokus / Kriegerischer Zerfall im Nahen und Mittleren Osten

LIT Verlag , Berlin (2018)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E.

War in Syria: UN peacekeeping mission and deal with Russia are imperative

BICC , Bonn (2018)

Open

Other publications

Meininghaus, E.

Is there hope? Peace negotiations as moments of exception in an era of post-politics. In S. Heinke (Ed.), Annual Report 2017 (pp. 10-17).

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Christ, S., & Meininghaus, E., & Röing, T.

Konfliktprävention in Unterkünften – Selbstverantwortung geflüchteter Menschen stärken

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open
bicc Working paper

Christ, S., & Meininghaus, E., & Röing, T.

"All Day Waiting"—Konflikte in Unterkünften für Geflüchtete in NRW

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open
Other publications

Gerken, L., & Meininghaus, E., & Röing, T., & Rudolf, M.

Freiwillige Rückkehr von Asylsuchenden. In Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Ed.), Kurzdossiers – Zuwanderung, Flucht und Asyl: Aktuelle Themen.

(2017)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Meininghaus, E., & Heinemann-Grüder, A.

Safe zones for Syria: Mitigating the humanitarian crisis

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open
Other publications

Gurol, J., & Meininghaus, E., & Mutschler, M., & Schlüsing, C.

Die Risiken europäischer Waffenexporte. In F. Braunsdorf (Ed.), Fluchtursachen „Made in Europe“: Über europäische Politik und ihren Zusammenhang mit Migration und Flucht (pp. 9-12).

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Globale Politik und Entwicklung) , Berlin (2017)

Open

Other publications

Meininghaus, E.

Syria's uneven aid distribution threatens future peace. In Oxford Research Group – Sustainable Security Blog.

(2016)

Open
Other publications

Meininghaus, E.

Ethics at breaking point: The humanitarian system in crisis. In S. Heinke (Ed.), Annual Report/Jahresbericht (pp. 10-19).

BICC , Bonn (2016)

Open
Journal Article

Meininghaus, E.

Emergency aid in intra-state war and implications for post-conflict reconstruction: The Syrian medical system

(2016)

Open
Other publications

Meininghaus, E.

Commentary \ The World Humanitarian Summit—Reform the system, but do not merge humanitarian and development aid.

BICC , Bonn (2016)

Open
Journal Article

Meininghaus, E.

Humanitarianism in intra-state conflict: aid inequality and local governance in government- and opposition-controlled areas in the Syrian war

Taylor & Francis , London (2016)

Open
Book

Meininghaus, E.

Creating consent in Ba'thist Syria: Women and welfare in a totalitarian state

I.B. Tauris , London (2016)

Open