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Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs

Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Short CV

  • Since 10/2018: Director of the GIGA Institute of African Affairs

  • 10/2016 - 12/2016: Visiting Fellow at Oxford Changing Character of War Programme

  • Since 05/2014: External Associate at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

  • 03/2014 - 05/2014: Visiting Professor at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

  • Since 12/2013: Professor at the University of Hamburg (§ 17 Professur)

  • 6/2005 - 04/2015: Head of GIGA Research Programme 2 "Violence and Security"

  • Since 2002: Research fellow with GIGA Institute of African Affairs; areas of expertise: Southern Africa, West and Central Africa; elections, political parties, democracy, civil-military relations, violent conflict, resource wars

  • Education: Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology at Heidelberg University; PhD 2001

Current Research

  • Resources conflicts

  • Religion and violent conflict

  • Civil–military relations

  • Political institutions

Countries and Regions

  • Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Mali

  • Niger

  • Chad

  • Botswana

Research Programme

  • Peace and Security

Projects

01/11/2020 - 31/10/2023

Religion for Peace: Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

In recent years, religion has become an increasingly contentious phenomenon, with religious violence and discrimination on the rise worldwide. However, religion is also connected to peace: interfaith peace is, in fact, the norm rather than the exception. We contribute to the rigorous empirical study of the link between religion and peace, especially regarding positive peace. Using several cutting-edge methodologies, we expect substantial results that are also very useful for policy. DFG, 2020-2023
01/10/2020 - 30/09/2023

Freedom and Development? Religious Actors, Freedom of Belief and Religion, and Sustainable Development

About 80% of the world's population professes a religion. In many countries, religious actors play a major role in development, e.g. education and the satisfaction of basic needs. At the same time, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) seems to be increasingly restricted and "religious" conflicts seem to be on the rise. We contribute to the international discussion how religion, and in particular FoRB, affects the Sustainable Development Goals. The project will provide policy recommendations with regard to potential religious...
01/02/2019 - 31/12/2019

Religion, Conflict, and Sustainable Peace: Causal Relationships and Recommendations for Development Cooperation

Religion generally plays a major role in the partner countries of German development cooperation. However, religion does not always seem to be favorable for development and peace. Conflicts in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria and Syria are often fought out between religious groups. Terrorist attacks by religious extremists are shaking Western countries and claiming even more victims in the Global South. This project investigates the causal relationships between religion, conflict, and peace and formulates recommendations for German...
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