Living alongside the conflict architecture in a divided society: a study of the emotional geographies of Cyprus

Abstract

In the 1950s and 1960s, periods of violence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities culminated in the partition of the island in 1974. This demilitarized Buffer Zone, also referred to as the Green Line, has divided Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south. Since then, Cyprus has been trapped in a state of intractable conflict. The formal negotiations between the two communities have been ongoing since 1975, encompassing the leaders of the two communities, their respective negotiating teams, and the United Nations. However, the most recent round of negotiations in 2017 collapsed, and since then prospects of a settlement have receded dramatically. These ongoing political processes are at the forefront of discussions on the ‘Cyprus Problem’. However, this PhD thesis takes a different approach, focusing instead on two understudied elements of this conflict: the cognitive geographies and spatial dimensions of the Cyprus Problem.

Therefore, the overarching aim of this project is to explore both elements in greater detail, addressing a critical void in the existing literature on cognitive geographies, space, and peacebuilding. The primary objective of this work is to provide an empirically grounded exploration and analysis, contributing a novel perspective to the current understandings of the Cyprus Problem. In doing so, this research answers pivotal questions surrounding lived experiences in a post-conflict landscape, the interplay between space and cognitive geographies, the impact of contested spaces on emotional well-being, and the potential of space to contribute to peacebuilding. Presented as a series of five academic papers, two of which are already published, each chapter contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of this deeply divided society.

Date of Award	Aug 2024
Original language	English
Supervisor	Orla McBride (Supervisor) & Sara Mc Dowell (Supervisor)