Biography

Professor Zeina Barakat is a Palestinian academic and researcher from Jerusalem, recognized as one of the leading Arab voices in the fields of reconciliation, applied ethics, peacebuilding, and interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Her work focuses particularly on issues of justice, human understanding, and coexistence within multicultural and conflict-affected contexts.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bethlehem University and later completed a Master’s degree in American Studies at Al-Quds University. She continued her academic journey in Germany at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, where she obtained her PhD in Reconciliation and Applied Ethics, becoming one of the first Arab women to specialize academically in this interdisciplinary field at the university.

In June 2026, she was appointed Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University in recognition of her scholarly contributions to reconciliation studies, transitional justice, and interreligious and intercultural studies.

Since 2019, Dr. Barakat has served as a Visiting Scholar at the Von Hügel Institute at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge, where she contributes to international research initiatives and academic programs dedicated to peace, dialogue, ethics, and justice.

Dr. Barakat teaches at Europa-Universität Flensburg. In addition, she serves as Executive Director of the European Wasatia Graduate School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the university, where she leads the implementation and development of the international PhD program, oversees academic and research cooperation, and supports the training of emerging scholars in the fields of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, reconciliation, and intercultural understanding.

Dr. Barakat has authored and contributed to numerous academic publications and research studies in the fields of reconciliation, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, transitional justice, and peace studies. Through her scholarly work, she has made significant contributions to contemporary academic discussions on peacebuilding, coexistence, and human understanding within international and multicultural contexts.