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

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

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

BICC , Bonn (2021)

Open

Meininghaus, E.

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

(2016)

Open

Meininghaus, E.

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

I.B. Tauris , London (2016)

Open

Publications

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

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

Meininghaus, E.

Spotlight on Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Implementation in Iraq

BICC , Bonn (2024)

Open

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

How can the HDP Nexus WorK from the Bottom Up?

BICC , Bonn (2024)

Open

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

Yazidis in Germany: Don’t Deport - Negotiate

(2023)

Open

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

Şahin-Mencütek, Z., & Meininghaus, E.

Syrian Refugee Returns, Reintegration Experiences and Risks

(2023)

Open

Meininghaus, E., & Schlüsing, C.

Translocality in War: Why Does it Matter?

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

Open

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

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

BICC , Bonn (2021)

Open

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

Meininghaus, E., & Schlüsing, C.

War in Syria: The translocal dimension of fighter mobilization

(2020)

Open

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

For a dynamic approach to stabilization

(2020)

Open

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

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

BICC , Bonn (2019)

Open

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

Bewaffnete Konflikte: Stabilisierung darf keine Interessenpolitik sein

LIT , Berlin (2019)

Open

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

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

BICC , Bonn (2019)

Open

Meininghaus, E., & Kühn, M.

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

Welthungerhilfe , Berlin/Bonn (2018)

Open

Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K.

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

BICC , Bonn (2018)

Open

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

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

(2018)

Open

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

Bewaffnete Konflikte: Deutsche Stabilisierungspolitik auf dem Prüfstand

LIT , Berlin (2018)

Open

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

Fokus / Kriegerischer Zerfall im Nahen und Mittleren Osten

LIT , Berlin (2018)

Open

Meininghaus, E.

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

BICC , Bonn (2018)

Open

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

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

Konfliktprävention in Unterkünften – Selbstverantwortung geflüchteter Menschen stärken

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open

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

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

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open

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

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

Safe zones for Syria: Mitigating the humanitarian crisis

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open

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

Meininghaus, E.

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

(2016)

Open

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

Meininghaus, E.

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

(2016)

Open

Meininghaus, E.

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

BICC , Bonn (2016)

Open

Meininghaus, E.

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

(2016)

Open

Meininghaus, E.

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

I.B. Tauris , London (2016)

Open