Negotiating cultural identities in post-conflict spaces: the memorial landscapes of Nicosia

Abstract

During the last forty­two years, Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus has been a city divided by the Green Line after a long period of inter­communal conflicts and the Turkish military invasion in 1974. In this divided city, two main identities have been grounded over time: Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The thesis aims to understand the role of the cultural heritage and urban planning in the post conflict urban scenario and the ways that memory, history and heritage of both communities have been widely used as a means to establish new identities after the division. By looking to different urban strategies, the research critically analyzes certain top­down urban strategies such as the placing of monuments and the Nicosia Master Plan which function as tools to inscribe specific memories in the urban space and eradicate others in order to shape new identities. Secondly, the thesis analyses other initiatives such as the Home for Cooperation, which proposes new understandings of the coexistence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Finally this research aims to participate in a literature that highlights the importance of social participation and community engagement in post­conflict scenarios.