Conflicts and Uses of Cultural Heritage in Cyprus

Constantinou, Costas M.; Demetriou, Olga; Hatay, Mete

doi:10.1080/19448953.2012.681923

Cited by 28 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Ince and Yuceer argue that many mosques were built in villages where existing churches had been used as mosques since 1974 [67]. Such new mosque construction is justified with the pressure imposed by the Turkish Cypriot community in these villages, who mentioned that "the reason for asking a mosque to be built was because the mosque was going to make our village look more Turkish and we, as refugees, would feel more rooted" [68] (p. 183). This is because of the imposed anxiety on the people following Greek Cypriot visits to their former villages and their churches in 2003.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting the Conditions of Authenticity for Built Heritage in Areas of Conflict

2021

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This article examines the application of conditions of authenticity within the context of built heritage management in areas of political conflict, where heritage management can be seen as a political act rather than a means of protection. It focuses on values attributed to built heritage that can be targeted or reinvented by the dominant power in areas of conflict with minorities being powerless to intervene. The argument is built around the Agios Synesios Church in North Cyprus, which continued to be used by the Greek Cypriot minority following the island division in 1974. Although their way of life has been compromised, they have embraced forced change through using the church to maintain their ritual and religious practices; by doing so, they negotiate their values towards their heritage. In this case, the study shows that the conditions of authenticity are difficult to meet, given the means through which heritage management can be manipulated. Accordingly, the article aims to contribute to general discussions on the vagueness and enigmatic conditions of authenticity in areas of conflict. Different buildings in areas of conflict around the world suffer because of the political nature of heritage management, which makes the criteria of authenticity unviable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting the Conditions of Authenticity for Built Heritage in Areas of Conflict

2021

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“…An asset in cultural rapprochement is the rich cultural landscape of Cyprus, which includes hundreds of archaeological sites (Louise & Morgan, 2013), offering the fertile ground for the communities to interact, cooperate, and pursue conflict transformation. Overall, in Cyprus, interconnection of conflict and cultural heritage is fraught with tension over cultural violation, heritage destruction and communal obliteration but at the same time, the restoration of particular sites of cultural heritage has become a tool for rapprochement efforts at the local authority and civil society levels (Constantinou, Demetriou, & Hatay, 2012).…”

Section: Identities and Culture In Cyprusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There have been efforts, to rebrand the Kyrenia project in civic rather than ethnic terms but there was little success in this since the only achievement up to now is the inclusion of a TC in the crew-team of a replica ship. (Constantinou, Demetriou, & Hatay, 2012).…”

Section: Bicommunal Heritage Management In Cyprusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflict Transformation and Cultural Heritage Use in Cyprus

Pasamitros

2022

HAPScPBS

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Cultural heritage use is often a point of friction between antagonistic groups in intrastate conflict. In other instances, use of heritage may facilitate intergroup contact and provide space for conflict transformation. The Cyprus issue is not an exception to this phenomenon. Although Cyprus is one of the most researched frozen conflict cases, cultural heritage use vis-à-vis conflict transformation is relatively understudied focusing primarily on tangible heritage protection, restoration and museology. This brief examines the degree of influence (be it positive or negative) of cultural heritage activity on conflict transformation between the two Cypriot communities. In specific, it examines bicommunal heritage projects, use of in-group and out-group heritage and, visits to own heritage sites on the other side of the divide. Results show that bicommunal heritage projects foster contact and cooperation, use of tangible heritage becomes the ground for antagonism over neglect and care of in-group and out-group sites, and visits to heritage on the other side provoke questions over use and reuse of neglected heritage of the other. In total, this brief demonstrates that often heritage issues are exploited in order to back ethnocentric positions. Both sides use own, neglected, damaged or lost heritage to support arguments of in-group superiority. Contrarily, the Cypriot communities do not consider intergroup cultural differences a deterring factor to transformation. The dynamic potentials of heritage can be utilised towards conflict transformation through bicommunal heritage activities, ventures attributing local ownership and joint management, and critical notions of heritage that favour intangibility and hybridity.

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“…In April 2003 the Turkish Cypriot authorities announced that they were ending restrictions on crossing the green line and that Greek Cypriots would be able to cross into the north of the island for the first time since 1974. However, Costas Constantinou et al (2012) noted that these crossings were both politically and emotionally loaded, with many shocked at the poor condition of heritage sites on the 'other' side. During the conflict of the 1960s and the 1974 invasion, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots experienced the loss of heritage sites, including the destruction and vandalism of churches, mosques, cemeteries and other sites and buildings of importance.…”

Section: Heritage In the Context Of The 'Cyprus Problem'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Heritage, Reconciliation and Cross-Border Cooperation in Cyprus

Reid

2021

Anthropological Journal of European Cultures

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Cultural heritage in Cyprus has been a contentious issue throughout the island’s tumultuous history. The official partition of the island in 1974, after years of conflict between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, has resulted in the destruction and neglect of heritage sites on both sides of the Cypriot ‘border’. However, in recent years there has been an increase in organisations that aim to use heritage as a tool to unite both communities. This contribution examines the work of one such organisation, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in Cyprus (TCCH).

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Conflicts and Uses of Cultural Heritage in Cyprus

Cited by 28 publications

References 2 publications

Revisiting the Conditions of Authenticity for Built Heritage in Areas of Conflict

Revisiting the Conditions of Authenticity for Built Heritage in Areas of Conflict

Conflict Transformation and Cultural Heritage Use in Cyprus

Heritage, Reconciliation and Cross-Border Cooperation in Cyprus

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