Author:
Abstract
Keywords
Abstract
This article aims to engage with the intractable conflict in Cyprus and the changes in many Cypriots’ lives after the island was divided into two parts. Building on insights from political and social psychological studies, this article analyzes the Cyprus conflict durability, and the different countries’ and international organizations’ role in conflict management through nationalism and border ideologies. After focusing specifically on the conflict and the theories related to the causes of conflict, the research critically discusses the various conflict transformation approaches and tries to understand the ethnic conflicts through the lens of social identities, social belongings, and establishing inter-communal interactions. Using semi-structured interviews with people from both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, the research provides explanations of why the conflict is still not resolved and gives examples of how to reduce prejudice between the groups in conflict. This research derives from the urgency to highlight the importance of inter-communal contact for constructing an alternative and more collaborative future. Finally, the study investigates the new paradigm of positive peace and nonviolence where the culture of war is dismantled, learning for peace is encouraged and the geographic limits are deconstructed.