A Qualitative Investigation Into the Emotional Geographies of Border Politics in "Postconflict" Cyprus

• Published in: Peace and conflict 2024-02, Vol.30 (1), p.82-93
• Main Author: Reid, Amy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conflict; COVID-19; Emotions; Female; Geographical Mobility; Geography; Human; Male; Pandemics; Politics
• ISSN: 1078-1919; 1532-7949
• DOI: 10.1037/pac0000708

In 2020, border politics in Cyprus were brought into sharp focus. Since 2003, Cypriots have been able to cross the Green Line, which has separated Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots into the north and south of the island since 1974. However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the closure of the crossing points between the two communities in February 2020. This had a significant impact on mobility across the island. Furthermore, in October 2020, the partial opening of Varosha, a city abandoned following the Turkish intervention in 1974 resulted in protests across Cyprus. Both events demonstrate the fragility of peace on an island marked by violence. This article aims to investigate the emotional impact of living in a society marred by rising tensions over territory and restrictions on mobility. Whilst the political narratives and dynamics of the Cyprus problem tend to dominate, I use qualitative methodologies (interviews and site visits) to pay particular attention to the lived experiences of the everyday people on both sides of the Green Line who are affected by the division. Finally, through an emotional geography lens, I argue that the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent border closure and reopening of Varosha's beachfront have brought forth feelings of frustration, betrayal, fear, and anxiety in terms of how people conceptualize division on the island. Public Significance Statement This article contributes to an important body of work on emotional geographies in postconflict societies. Focusing on two significant events that occurred in Cyprus during a period of uncertainty and transition, I highlight the personal accounts of those on the island affected by changing border policies. This research argues that emotion is often overlooked yet plays a crucial role in how people conceptualize both the division on the island, and the ongoing "Cyprus Problem."