Former Fellow

Esther Akumbo Nyam, Ph.D.

Lecturer at Plateau State University, Bokkos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Research Project: Trust and Reconciliation: Presentation of the Middle belt region of Nigeria.

Abstract
What defines material culture studies are the various artifacts that defines a people. The study will discuss the complex nature and relationships between material culture, collective action and formations of identity and exploring possible ways it can facilitate or hinder the processes of fostering and rebuilding trust for conscientization and change. The Impact of the violent conflict in the middle belt region in Nigeria would be deconstructed highlighting the distinctions of life and property and how this impact on its citizenry can regain its trust in the aftermath crisis. Performance theory and cultural innovation theory will be looked at. These cultural innovation theories are mostly created by conflicts, insecurity and war and it discusses the issue of trust, reconciliation, dialogue and change. It would showcase the importance of incorporating reenactments, films in proffering solutions in addressing the violent conflict in the affected communities. The study aims at contributing the role of material culture in resolving the conflict in building trust and reconciliation as processes.

  • Biografische Angaben

    Esther A. Nyam holds a PhD in community theater and development. Her research revolves around women, children and youths in developmental community oriented reenactment projects both nationally and internationally.
  • Publikationen

    Esther A. Nyam (2017) Polio Eradication and Conflicting Participation In The Quest For Change: BEYOND  AGENCY: Voice and Space in Africa’s Development, Editor by Maurice Nyamanga Amutabi, Centre for Democracy, Research and Development (CEDRED), Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN 978-9966-1933-2-2 Esther A. Nyam (2018) Participatory Approach To Theatre For Development (TFD) Experiences in Meru For Sustainable Change (2016). Politics of  Development in Africa. Edited by Maurice  Nyamanga  Amutabi. Centre for Democracy, Research and Development(CEDRED), Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN 978-9966-116-79-6 Nyam E. A. (2016) Revolutionary Politics & the Theatre of Semotics: Political Discourse in Emergent, Fragile, and Failed Democracies, Edited by, D.Orwenjo, Oketch, O., Tunde H. Asiru. Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) Publisher, USA @2016, ISBN 9781522500810, ISBN 9781522500810 Esther A. Nyam (2019). Clapping from the Arena, An enlighten Despotism and Theatre for Global Development: A Mitigation against Climate Change and Water

News from the research center

News
30.06.2025

Article "Ideology and Suffering: What Is Realistic about Critical Theory?" by Amadeus Ulrich published in EJPT

The article "Ideology and Suffering: What Is Realistic about Critical Theory?" by Amadeus Ulrich has just been published open access in the European Journal of Political Theory (EJPT). Ulrich brings the perspective of radical realism into a productive dialog with Adorno's critical theory.

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News
30.06.2025

Prof. Dr. Franziska Fay awarded the Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose University Prize 2025

Prof. Dr. Franziska Fay (Junior Professor of Ethnology with a focus on Political Anthropology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and former postdoctoral researcher at the Research Center Normative Orders at Goethe University) receives the Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose University Award 2025 in the category Humanities and Social Sciences.

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Publication
25.06.2025 | Online article

Ideology and Suffering: What Is Realistic about Critical Theory?

Ulrich, Amadeus (2025): Ideology and suffering: What is realistic about critical theory? European Journal of Political Theory, 0(0).  https://doi.org/10.1177/14748851251351782

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News
24.06.2025

New series “Vertrauensfragen” in the Frankfurter Rundschau initiated by Hendrik Simon

Democracy thrives on debate - if it serves the joint search for solutions. There is often a problem with this cooperation. The new FR series “Vertrauensfragen”, initiated by Hendrik Simon (Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) Frankfurt location at Goethe University's Research Centre Normative Orders ), examines why this is the case and how we can do better.

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Publication
23.06.2025 | Working Paper

Untrustworthy Authorities and Complicit Bankers: Unraveling Monetary Distrust in Argentina

Moreno, Guadalupe (2025): “Untrustworthy Authorities and Complicit Bankers: Unraveling Monetary Distrust in Argentina”. Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies Discussion Paper 25/3.

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News
22.05.2025

Does deliberative democracy have a future in the age of oligarchs, autocrats and patriarchs?

On June 3, Prof. Simone Chambers will give a lecture on the value of democracies and the future of the form of government.

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Publication
19.05.2025 | Anthology

Klimaethik. Ein Reader

Sparenborg, Lukas; Moellendorf, Darrel (Hrsg.) (2025) : Klimaethik. Ein Reader. Suhrkamp.

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News
19.05.2025

What can a baroque tapestry tell us about colonial iconography?

Lecture by Cécile Fromone on May 21. The professor at the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University, director of the Cooper Gallery at the Hutchins Center and author will talk about the long-forgotten African origins of iconography and its colonial dimension.

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News
05.05.2025

Normative Orders Newsletter 01/25 published

The newsletter from Research Centre Normative Orders collects information on current events, reports, news and publications several times a year. Read the first issue 2025 here.

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