Anika Oettler

Prof. Dr. Anika Oettler is a Professor of Sociology at the Institute of Sociology within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy at Philipps University of Marburg. She leads the research group on Social Development and Comparative Social Structure Analysis, focusing on reconciliation processes, transitional justice, and political violence, particularly in the context of the Colombian peace process.

Her research interests include social reconciliation in contexts of chronic violence, memory studies, gender and transitional justice, and postcolonial approaches to peacebuilding. She has conducted extensive research on how different communities understand and experience reconciliation, particularly through her work on the Colombian peace process.

Prof. Oettler's publications reveal a strong focus on reconciliation studies, with particular attention to Colombia. Her work employs innovative methodologies like Q-sort to understand diverse perspectives on reconciliation. She has also contributed significantly to research on LGBTQ+ rights, memorials (including the Berlin Memorial for Homosexuals Persecuted under Nazism), and Central American violence discourses.

Among her notable scientific contributions are publications in journals like Peacebuilding and Cultural Dynamics, as well as policy briefs for the TraCe research center. Her research demonstrates a consistent engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications of peacebuilding and transitional justice.

• Principal investigator for the Project Reconciliation studying reconciliation in contexts of chronic violence in Colombia
• Member of the Hessian Research Center 'Transformations of Political Violence' (TraCe)
• Participates in the Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM)
• Coordinator of the Envisioning Peace | Transforming Conflict research network

Prof. Oettler actively supervises numerous doctoral students working on topics related to social reconciliation, migration, political violence, and transitional justice in Latin America and beyond. Her office hours for the winter semester 2025/26 are Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with appointments bookable via ILIAS one week in advance.