German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

DEEN

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

Lead Research Fellow | Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

  • Short CV

    • Since 08/2023: Co-Director of the GIGA Institute of Latin American Studies (ad interim)

    • Since 06/2018: Honorary professorship at the Philipps-University Marburg

    • 06/2018 - 01/2020: Acting Director of the GIGA Institute of Latin American Studies

    • 09/2006 - 10/2008: Senior Researcher DSF-Project "Societal and political Fractures after War: Youth Violence in Cambodia and Guatemala", INEF, University Duisburg-Essen.

    • Since 1993: Senior Researcher of the GIGA Institute of Latin American Studies, research interests: peace and conflict, security policies, youth Regional focus Central America, Andean Region.

    • Since 1992: Independent Consultant (among others for the Foreign Ministry, Minis-try of Development Cooperation, GTZ, Bertelsmann Transformation Index).

    • 1991: PhD in Political Science, University of Hamburg.

    • 1990 - 1992: Researcher at the Research Center on Wars, Armament and Development, University of Hamburg.

    • 1987 - 1990: Researcher at the Institute of Political Science University of Hamburg (Prof. Dr. K.J. Gantzel), Coordination of the Research Group on Cau-ses of War.

    • 1987: Researcher at the Institute for Iberoamerican Studies, Hamburg (July - September)

    • Education: Studies in Political Science, Spanish, Contemporary History in Madrid, Erlangen, Sevilla and Hamburg

    Current Research

    • Postwar Societies

    • Violence and Social change

    • Youth

    Countries and Regions

    • Central America

    • Colombia

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    T. +49 (0)40 - 428 25-570sabine.kurtenbach@giga-hamburg.de

    Highlights

    From Ending War to Building Peace – Lessons from Latin America

    GIGA Focus Latin America | 1/2022

    From Ending War to Building Peace – Lessons from Latin America

    With the takeover of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the possibilities and limits of international peace operations are being newly discussed. Experiences from Central America and Colombia show that not only the return of the past but also the lack of structural reforms threaten peace. An analysis.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Pandemic, Protest, and Petro Presidente: Rescuing Colombia’s Peace

    GIGA Focus Latin America | 3/2022

    Pandemic, Protest, and Petro Presidente: Rescuing Colombia’s Peace

    COVID-19 paved the way for a left-wing government winning in Colombia’s recent elections. The pandemic has deepened structural inequalities, promoting an unprecedented wave of protest against the right-wing incumbent. Answering with high levels of violence only further increased the call for change.

    Kristina Birke Daniels

    Viviana García Pinzón

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    The Entanglements of Peace: Reflections on the long road of transforming the armed conflict in Colombia

    Edited Volume | FESCOL Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Colombia | 08/2021

    The Entanglements of Peace: Reflections on the long road of transforming the armed conflict in Colombia

    The publication of this study, which seeks to analyse and understand the variety of conceptions of peace in Colombia, comes at a key but complex moment. The context of the pandemic has not only had an impact on the health of the Colombian population, but also on the quality of life of households.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Kristina Birke Daniels

    Friedrich Ebert Foundation Colombia

    Publications

    Infographic | 09/2023

    How to deal with Non-state Armed Actors

    Dealing with NSAAs is complicated and complex shifting between repression and dialogue. NSAAs are highly flexibkle and able to adapt to changing local and global contexts. Policies must be comprehensive and include local communities as well as structural drivers of violence.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Yannick Deepen

    Former GIGA Team member

    GIGA Focus Latin America | 3/2023

    Latin America’s Search for Security: Between Repression and Dialogue

    In Latin America, most violence is considered “criminal.” But a clear-cut distinction between political and criminal violence does not exist. Policies to reduce violence meander between repression and dialogue but lack comprehensiveness, and a focus on prevention, the rule of law, and human rights.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Video | 07/2023

    COVID-19 and Violent Actors in the Global South: An Inter- and Cross-Regional Comparison

    This trend analysis examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on state and non-state violent actors in the Global South. We provide an ACLED-based interregional mapping of trends in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

    Yannick Deepen

    Dr. André Bank

    Dr. Julia Grauvogel

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Journal of Global Security Studies | 06/2023

    Promoting Peace and Impunity? Amnesty Laws after War in El Salvador and Beyond

    Applying a Historical Institutionalist framework, the authors of this article assess the impact of the adoption of amnesty laws on societal impunity, defined as any person or group being exempt from punishment or free from the injurious consequences of an action.

    Dr. Nadine Ansorg

    Associate

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Web Publication | 11/2022

    Narrative map on "COVID-19 and Dynamics of (Post)War Violence"

    The pandemic altered the opportunity structures of state and non-state armed actors, exacerbated grievances, prompted new investments in services provision, and created new spaces for cooperation, thereby affecting the dynamics of violence across different dimensions and time horizons.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Viviana García Pinzón

    Dr. André Bank

    Research Projects

    Research Project | 01/03/2021 - 31/08/2022

    COVID-19 and the Dynamics of (Post-)War Violence: Lessons from Colombia and Syria

    What are the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dynamics of violence during and after civil wars? The project analyses the pandemic-related reconfiguration of social and political orders in a comparative study of Syria and Colombia at subnational levels. In this way, it will provide new knowledge on violence dynamics in two of the most complex conflicts today and be able to suggest crucial lessons for similar (post-)war contexts in other parts of the world.
    Volkswagen Foundation, 2021-2022

    Research Project | 01/01/2021 - 31/12/2023

    Democratizing Security in Turbulent Times

    How is security provided in turbulent times and how does this affect the relationship between democracy and security? The proposed research training group examines fundamental reconfigurations of the relationship between security and democracy against the backdrop of growing political and societal polarisation, the advent of new digital technologies and the rescaling of security to arenas below and beyond the state.
    Landesforschungsförderung Hamburg, 2021-2023

    Research Project | 01/01/2021 - 31/12/2023

    PEACEptions

    Providing a conceptual framework in which different ideas of peace can be highlighted and their differences analysed in order to be able to formulate concrete proposals for peacebuilding is at the heart of this project. The concept is based on three elements whose meaning crosses historical and cultural boundaries: physical integrity, individual and collective human rights, and constructive conflict transformation.
    FES, 2021-2023

    Research Project | 01/09/2019 - 31/08/2022

    Democracy and Games: Analog and Digital Game-Based-Learning Tools for Youth Work (DEMOGAMES)

    DEMOGAMES is a Youth in Action project within the Erasmus+ framework. Through the development of several analogue and digital games, the project will advance knowledge transfer in the field of democracy education. Democracy education enables young people to recognize and represent their interests, to participate in political processes and, in doing so, to meet their fellow human beings and their concerns with respect. The project addresses these issues and uses the didactic approach of game-based learning to engage young citizens with respect to learning about, through and for democracy.
    EC, Erasmus+, 2019-2022

    Media Contributions

    Radio Bremen 2 | Interview | 21/08/2023

    Ecuador nach den Wahlen

    Radioeins RBB | Interview | 18/08/2023

    Ecuador wählt am Sonntag neuen Präsidenten

    Im Mai rief der ecuadorianische Präsident Guillermo Lasso zu vorgezogenen Neuwahlen für Präsident und Parlament auf. Am 10. August wurde der Präsidentschaftskandidat Fernando Villavicencio ermordet. Was bedeutet dies für die Wahlen am 20. August? 

    deutschlandfunk Kultur | Interview | 12/08/2023

    Mord an Politiker in Ecuador – der Umgang mit Drogenkartellen in Lateinamerika

    The asasination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio becomes part of Latin America's search for security policies to confront organised crime. Two models are pursued: El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele opts for extreme repression while Colombian President Gustavo Petro favours talks for disarmament.

    Lectures

    Volkswagen Foundation | 05/12/2022

    Covid-19 and the Dynamics of Violence in Colombia and Syria

    Organiser: Volkswagen Foundation Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Speaker)

    How does the Covid-19 pandemic influence the dynamics of violence in Colombia and Syria.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Conference | 01/11/2022 - 02/11/2022

    Human Security in the Police Service. A Joint Construction for Life and Peace

    Human Security in the Police Service. A Joint Construction for Life and Peace, Academía de la Policía Nacional, Bogotá Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Speaker)

    The Colombian Police discusses how to adopt the frame of human security in their work.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation | 25/04/2022

    For a New Social Contract. Renewing Democracy to Leave No One Behind.

    Organiser: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Consultant)

    Kick-off of a Spanish initiative within the overall development framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, tprimarily under Goal 16: peace, justice and strong institutions.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

    Lead Research Fellow / Co-Leader of the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies (ad interim) Editor GIGA Focus Latin America

    Teaching

    Teaching | Philipps-Universität Marburg | 2020

    Lateinamerika brennt

    Philipps-Universität Marburg Marburg Germany

    Mittelseminar Friedens- und Konfliktforschung FB 03

    Teaching | Universität Hamburg | 2015

    Violence and Inequality in Latin America

    Universität Hamburg Hamburg Germany

    Teaching | Universität Hamburg | 2011

    Youth and Violence

    Universität Hamburg Hamburg Germany

    Notification

    Sign up to receive email notifications about GIGA activities

    Social Media

    Follow us

    German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien
    Logo Total E Quality
    Logo Hamburger Allianz Fuer Familien
    Logo Leibniz
    Alt Text Footer Logo Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research, Equalities and Districts
    Logo Auswertiges Amt