Theodora Benesch

Theodora Benesch is a Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute of African Studies, part of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), a leading Leibniz Institute for global and area studies. She has previously held research positions at the International Security and Development Center (ISDC) and Uppsala University, contributing to peacebuilding and conflict research.

Education:

• M.S.Sc. in Peace and Conflict Studies, Uppsala University
• BA in Political Science, Goethe University

Her research centers on peace and security, with a particular emphasis on interreligious peace. She investigates how religious leaders and their messages contribute to peacebuilding in divided societies. Her work combines theoretical insights with empirical analysis, focusing on the conditions and mechanisms that enable interreligious cooperation and sustainable peace.

Her recent publication, Building interreligious peace, synthesizes findings from a project exploring the role of religious rhetoric and messengers in peace processes. The research highlights the challenges and opportunities in leveraging religious authority for conflict mitigation.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Theodora Benesch has been involved in advising and research projects related to peacebuilding, including a multi-year project titled Religion for Peace: An Investigation of Messengers and Messages for Interreligious Peace (2024–2026), funded or hosted by GIGA. While specific grant details are not mentioned, her continued appointment suggests active engagement in externally supported research.

She is part of a research team at GIGA focused on political accountability, peace and security, and globalization. Her collaborative work with doctoral researchers like Julia Köbrich indicates integration into a broader academic network dedicated to conflict resolution and development.