%0 Journal Article
%T Civil Society's Role in Peace-Building : Relevance of the Cypriot Case
%A Direnc Kanol
%J Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe
%D 2010
%I European Centre for Minority Issues
%X This article argues that the rationale of the current conflict resolution strategy for resolving the Cyprus problem is problematic. Time and energy should be spent more on peace-building efforts that penetrate into ideas and identities of the Cypriots, than on negotiations that take place between the leaders. Greek and Turkish Cypriots should have a sense of ¡®we¡¯ based on equality rather than recognizing each other as the ¡®enemy¡¯ in case a durable solution to the problem can be found. In spite of the current political rhetoric which is very negative, civil society can be a crucial actor in reversing this trend and pursuing this important task. Even though the peace-building success of civil society in Cyprus may be questionable, the author argues that the opportunity for a highly profitable outcome exists if civil society can shift its focus on in-group socialization, increase work-related activities, apply a more participative strategy, and act in a coordinated way.
%K Cyprus problem
%K civil society
%K peace-building
%K political rhetoric
%U http://www.ecmi.de/fileadmin/downloads/publications/JEMIE/Kanol.pdf