Periodic Reporting for period 1 - YOUPEACEBUILDER (THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN PEACEBUILDING: THE CYPRUS CASE)
Période du rapport: 2018-11-01 au 2020-10-31
YOUPEACEBUILDER deals with the question of how to engage youth in peacebuilding processes with a particular focus on Cyprus. Although the potential of youth has recently become the subject of a growing scholarly research agenda, the political, social and economic agency of Cypriot youth in particular continue to be ignored. This generation has the capacity to build trust and cohesion in society through its activities, dialogue and engagement in daily life. And it therefore becomes critical that research investigates the perceptions of youth and their demands regarding their readiness for the peace process and willingness to coexist, especially in such a divided country as Cyprus. Accordingly, YOUPEACEBUILDER focuses on the neglected Cypriot youth by uncovering their perceptions and suggesting ways to incorporate youth voices in the peace process.
There is an overwhelming inclination in the literature to highlight the negative roles of youth by expanding on the link between youth and violence. But the past two decades have seen shifts in the body of research towards the agency and potential of youth in post-conflict societies, altering this pessimistic discourse. Numerous examples illuminate how youth have participated in peacebuilding and have contributed positively to post-conflict processes. The research findings reveal that Cypriot youth also believe that they have a responsibility to find a peaceful settlement to the problem. Despite the hesitancy of community leaders to engage them in the process, Cypriot youth have launched individual or collective initiatives to contribute to peacebuilding attempts. This is especially crucial considering the lack of optimism youth have about prospects for a peaceful settlement to the enduring Cyprus problem.
YOUPEACEBUILDER aims to foster debate among academics, policy experts, civil society organisations and international third-party actors working on this issue. And it does this by addressing the issue directly and offering practical recommendations – in accordance with the pillars of UNSC Resolution 2250(2015) on Youth, Peace and Security – on how the potential of youth can be utilised more effectively in future peacebuilding efforts in Cyprus. Creating an inclusive peace process in Cyprus, with the involvement of youth and a broader segment of society, would enhance the prospects for a solution to one of the most challenging issues in European society.
There is an overwhelming inclination in the literature to highlight the negative roles of youth by expanding on the link between youth and violence. But the past two decades have seen shifts in the body of research towards the agency and potential of youth in post-conflict societies, altering this pessimistic discourse. Numerous examples illuminate how youth have participated in peacebuilding and have contributed positively to post-conflict processes. The research findings reveal that Cypriot youth also believe that they have a responsibility to find a peaceful settlement to the problem. Despite the hesitancy of community leaders to engage them in the process, Cypriot youth have launched individual or collective initiatives to contribute to peacebuilding attempts. This is especially crucial considering the lack of optimism youth have about prospects for a peaceful settlement to the enduring Cyprus problem.
YOUPEACEBUILDER aims to foster debate among academics, policy experts, civil society organisations and international third-party actors working on this issue. And it does this by addressing the issue directly and offering practical recommendations – in accordance with the pillars of UNSC Resolution 2250(2015) on Youth, Peace and Security – on how the potential of youth can be utilised more effectively in future peacebuilding efforts in Cyprus. Creating an inclusive peace process in Cyprus, with the involvement of youth and a broader segment of society, would enhance the prospects for a solution to one of the most challenging issues in European society.
The MSCA Fellow designed the fellowship in five work packages to fully realise the project deliverables and milestones alongside a feasible career development plan over the fellowship period. The work packages include a) integration and project management, b) training and career development activities, c) survey and interview development and data collection, d) dissemination to academics, and e) outreach and communication with wider audiences.
Within the supportive environment at the host institution, the MSCA Fellow was able to implement a two-way transfer of knowledge. In line with the fellowship’s main goal of personal development, the MSCA Fellow attended 24 training programmes and 39 seminars and networking events. The training and knowledge acquired through the MSCA fellowship opened up new opportunities, networks and roles for the Fellow. Accordingly, the Fellow activated new academic networks that will yield connections to new publications/collaborations, assumed roles as contributor and advisory board member on various research projects, gained teaching experience in the UK and acted as mentor for both early-career researchers and potential MSCA fellows.
The researcher collected qualitative and quantitative data for YOUPEACEBUILDER that have provided an empirical foundation to compare youth’s perceptions and demands for a sustainable peace on the island. Using these data, the MSCA Fellow has presented research at six international and three local conferences, published two journal articles and an academic analysis (English, Turkish and Greek). He has two forthcoming book chapters, two journal manuscripts under review, and two journal manuscripts and four international conference presentations currently being prepared. The MSCA Fellow also signed a contract with a university press for book that will have a chapter devoted specifically to the YOUPEACEBUILDER topic. The Fellow also acted as a co-module leader for an online course called ‘Comparative Peace Processes’, which was designed for graduate students at the host institute. In order to reach and inform a wider audience, the fellow has been actively using numerous social media platforms with the hashtag #youpeacebuilder. The Fellow participated two Greek-Turkish Young Leaders Symposiums, which featured over 75 young people from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, as a speaker and co-facilitator, and he wrote five op-ed pieces, two policy papers and a policy brief on prestigious platforms. As a result of these publications, the fellow was spotlighted and interviewed by several journalists and high-ranking officials in Turkey, Cyprus and the UK. In addition to his ongoing connections with local, youth-led organisations, the Fellow also contributed to local newspapers through interviews, op-eds and podcasts to raise the awareness of the youth-inclusive peace process based on interview and survey findings.
It is important to highlight that the data sets collected for YOUPEACEBUILDER will undoubtedly assist the researcher in developing new publications in the coming years in addition to the work already produced and published during the fellowship period.
Within the supportive environment at the host institution, the MSCA Fellow was able to implement a two-way transfer of knowledge. In line with the fellowship’s main goal of personal development, the MSCA Fellow attended 24 training programmes and 39 seminars and networking events. The training and knowledge acquired through the MSCA fellowship opened up new opportunities, networks and roles for the Fellow. Accordingly, the Fellow activated new academic networks that will yield connections to new publications/collaborations, assumed roles as contributor and advisory board member on various research projects, gained teaching experience in the UK and acted as mentor for both early-career researchers and potential MSCA fellows.
The researcher collected qualitative and quantitative data for YOUPEACEBUILDER that have provided an empirical foundation to compare youth’s perceptions and demands for a sustainable peace on the island. Using these data, the MSCA Fellow has presented research at six international and three local conferences, published two journal articles and an academic analysis (English, Turkish and Greek). He has two forthcoming book chapters, two journal manuscripts under review, and two journal manuscripts and four international conference presentations currently being prepared. The MSCA Fellow also signed a contract with a university press for book that will have a chapter devoted specifically to the YOUPEACEBUILDER topic. The Fellow also acted as a co-module leader for an online course called ‘Comparative Peace Processes’, which was designed for graduate students at the host institute. In order to reach and inform a wider audience, the fellow has been actively using numerous social media platforms with the hashtag #youpeacebuilder. The Fellow participated two Greek-Turkish Young Leaders Symposiums, which featured over 75 young people from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, as a speaker and co-facilitator, and he wrote five op-ed pieces, two policy papers and a policy brief on prestigious platforms. As a result of these publications, the fellow was spotlighted and interviewed by several journalists and high-ranking officials in Turkey, Cyprus and the UK. In addition to his ongoing connections with local, youth-led organisations, the Fellow also contributed to local newspapers through interviews, op-eds and podcasts to raise the awareness of the youth-inclusive peace process based on interview and survey findings.
It is important to highlight that the data sets collected for YOUPEACEBUILDER will undoubtedly assist the researcher in developing new publications in the coming years in addition to the work already produced and published during the fellowship period.
The impacts from the MSCA fellowship were improved upon during the fellowship period and exceeded expectations. The potential impacts can be evaluated under two inter-related aspects: a) the expansion of the research focus and dissemination of the results and b) progress in the personal and professional development of the researcher.
YOUPEACEBUILDER provides important inputs for critical peace and conflict studies with its emphasis on youth in a specific case study. The focus of the project has also broadened its scope into new topics, including Cypriot youth diaspora, paving the way for new connections and opportunities for collaboration. Accordingly, the Fellow has broadened his network in the UK, where he is currently working on a new grant application with a new hosting institution. Regarding dissemination activities, the researcher has exceeded his initial goals, generating more local and international outputs based on the research findings and the researcher’s own expertise in collaboration with several institutions. The distribution networks of these institutions helped the Fellow reach a wider audience in various countries and spark debate about the topic.
The knowledge the researcher acquired during the grant period has yielded a host of new opportunities. The MSCA Fellow was invited to participate in four research projects, either as a contributor or advisory board member. He will contribute to three research projects between 2020 and 2023 through the promotion of the existing and forthcoming outputs of YOUPEACEBUILDER by writing new policy papers and co-authoring new journal articles on topics related to his research. He will also serve as the member on the advisory board for a large research project from 2020 to 2024 with his newly acquired knowledge on youth and peacebuilding thanks to the MSCA fellowship.
YOUPEACEBUILDER provides important inputs for critical peace and conflict studies with its emphasis on youth in a specific case study. The focus of the project has also broadened its scope into new topics, including Cypriot youth diaspora, paving the way for new connections and opportunities for collaboration. Accordingly, the Fellow has broadened his network in the UK, where he is currently working on a new grant application with a new hosting institution. Regarding dissemination activities, the researcher has exceeded his initial goals, generating more local and international outputs based on the research findings and the researcher’s own expertise in collaboration with several institutions. The distribution networks of these institutions helped the Fellow reach a wider audience in various countries and spark debate about the topic.
The knowledge the researcher acquired during the grant period has yielded a host of new opportunities. The MSCA Fellow was invited to participate in four research projects, either as a contributor or advisory board member. He will contribute to three research projects between 2020 and 2023 through the promotion of the existing and forthcoming outputs of YOUPEACEBUILDER by writing new policy papers and co-authoring new journal articles on topics related to his research. He will also serve as the member on the advisory board for a large research project from 2020 to 2024 with his newly acquired knowledge on youth and peacebuilding thanks to the MSCA fellowship.