Dr. des. Pascale Schild

Pascale Schild studied social anthropology and science of religion at the University of Bern and holds a PhD in social and cultural anthropology from the LMU Munich with a thesis on reconstruction after the earthquake in northeast Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. Based on ethnographic research in the city of Muzaffarabad, her thesis examines the social and political implications of state reconstruction policies and bureaucracy for the local population.

In her postdoctoral research project she explores transnational peace initiatives for disputed and divided Kashmir between Pakistan and India. Following these initiatives to social and political contexts and locations in England, Kashmir, India and Pakistan, she examines the mutual and contentious relations, ideas and practices of the various international organisations and Kashmiri interest groups involved.
During autumn semester 2018 Pascale Schild is a Junior Fellow at the Walter Benjamin Kolleg, University of Bern.

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Current Research Project

Peace for Kashmir? Transnational civilian peacebuilding across the Line of Control.

Completed Research Project

Politics of Reconstruction after the Earthquake in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir

Research Interests

Politics, anthropology of the state, bureaucracies, ‘natural’ disasters, transnationalism, peace, democracy, governmentality, South Asia (Pakistan and Kashmir)

 Publications

• 2018: “They Promised Us A Shelter”: Negotiations and Contestations of „the State“ after the Earthquake in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. In: Sökefeld, Martin (ed.): Disasters in Pakistan. Oxford University Press (in preparation).
• 2016: with David Loher, Luisa Piart, Sabine Strasser and Tobias Haller: On the New Politics of Distribution: An Interview with James Ferguson. Tsantsa 21: 166-176.
• 2015: Local Politics of Reconstruction Along and Across Azad Kashmir’s Border with Pakistan. Contemporary South Asia 23(3): 292-313.
• 2014: Struggling for Reconstruction: Houses, Homes and „the State“ after the Earthquake in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. Scrutiny 5/6: 33-51.
• 2012: Representations and Practices of “Home” in the Context of the 2005 Earthquake and Reconstruction Process in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. In: Ute Luig (ed.): Negotiating Disasters: Politics, Representations, Meanings. Frankfurt, Peter Lang.205-234.
• 2010: Situationen, Widersprüche und Konflikte „muslimischer“ Identitätspolitik im diskursiven Kontext der Schweiz. In: Allenbach, Brigit und Martin Sökefeld (Hgg.): Muslime in der Schweiz. Zürich, Seismo. 181-212.
• 2009: Ein symbolisches Konfliktfeld. Bulletin SGMOIK (Schweizerische Gesellschaft Mittlerer Osten und Islamische Kulturen) „Das Minarett“, 28.