This summer I led a research project for the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center (CPDC), which involved interviews with individuals in both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Republic of Cyprus (ROC). Interviewees included academics, researchers, journalists, politicians, and civil society leaders.

The goal of the project was to explore why the status quo of a non-negotiated settlement in Cyprus has continued for so long and the potential for future peacebuilding efforts, taking into account people's hopes and fears as they relate to reunification as well as lessons learned from previously failed negotiations in 2004 and 2017. This project aligned with the CPDC's mission to find a comprehensive solution to the “Cyprus Problem,\" or the fact that the island has been formally divided between north and south along a UN buffer zone since 1974. In order to do this, the organization focuses on policy issues, grassroots dialogue and cultural reconciliation, cross-community civil society networking, and promoting cross-island commerce. The research project was specifically part of the policy and grassroots dialogue work, and was conducted according to the following theory of change: if interviews are conducted with stakeholders on their understanding of the “Cyprus Problem,\" then the CPDC will have a resource from which it can draw information for future peacebuilding activities, because citing shared facts/opinions can foster increased understanding and collaboration between Cypriot communities as well as non-Cypriot stakeholders. The longer-term goal is that this project is able to reduce the “blame game” between communities, while increasing multi-perspective awareness and critical thinking. The project culminated in a final report that analyzed interviewees' responses, as well as areas for future research.

My dual degrees in social work and international affairs, with a focus on conflict resolution, human rights, and humanitarian policy, heavily informed my work this summer. Clinical coursework from the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) informed how I engaged with individuals during interviews, maintaining respect and humility as Cypriots shared their personal stories with me. My coursework also gave me a lens through which to view the division in Cyprus, as well as people's perspectives on it, taking into account systems of power and privilege — or lack thereof — that might be at play. My coursework from the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) informed the more quantitative aspects of my work, including how to formulate interview transcripts, how to code interview data, as well as how to analyze it. SIPA also gave me a macro-level view of the Cyprus conflict, taking into account outside intervention, as well as how global politics have influenced and been influenced by the “Cyprus Problem.\"

One challenge I faced this summer was that I was almost entirely responsible for the execution of this project and its outcomes. This included networking with stakeholders relevant to the work (with the support of my colleagues), outreach and follow up with interviewees, creating the interview transcript, conducting interviews, and analyzing results. While I believe this became a tremendous opportunity for growth for myself, both personally and professionally, the task was initially daunting. This was especially true as I was in a new country, and I experienced some culture shock along the way. While English is widely spoken in Cyprus, I also had limited knowledge of Turkish and Greek, the primary languages of the island. As I believe language influences the ways we make sense of the world around us, I was cognizant of the fact that I was coming from a specific English-speaking perspective (as well as a world of academia dominated by the English language). Finally, the heat was a challenge in the last month of the internship. Cyprus heat was something my body had to get used to

— as temperatures would reach 110 degrees fahrenheit during July/August afternoons!

I experienced a lot of personal growth in the almost three months I spent in Cyprus this summer. I am proud of the ways in which I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and contributed my time and efforts toward a small grassroots organization that is doing important peacebuilding work on the island. I remain steadfast in my belief that community-level or “local” work is almost always the most important element in the fields of peacebuilding and conflict resolution and should be prioritized. While the work of outside organizations and individuals can be integral — such as funds from donor countries, or projects implemented by entities such as the EU or the UN, it should not be done without a) empowering local organizations and community members and b) prioritizing the viewpoints of those who are directly affected by the conflict or division at hand. Special attention should be paid to communities that have traditionally been left out of conversations, including those who may not have been involved in the history of a conflict, but may be affected by its consequences today. Additionally, a common sentiment in Cyprus is that every person you ask has a different perspective on the “Cyprus Problem.\" I found this to be true — the more I interviewed Cypriots, the more I learned — and the more complicated my understanding of the problem became. On this note, I have walked away from my experience with an appreciation for the fact that peacebuilding and conflict resolution take time, and do not follow a linear path. “Conflict,” in its myriad forms, is not something that can be solved by any one negotiator, or through one conversation. I am grateful for my experience and look forward to carrying the lessons I've learned with me into the future.