Resilience and Adaptability: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cypriot Peacebuilding Organisations

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of Cypriot peacebuilding organisations. By focusing on a set of 20 indigenous civil society organisations (CSOs), it critically analyses the actions, methods and strategies used by CSOs to deliver upon their peacebuilding ambitions. Interpreting the success or effectiveness of individual CSOs is methodologically and conceptually challenging. There is no single or universal understanding for what peacebuilding effectiveness consists of given actors have different interpretations depending on their interests, beliefs and priorities. It is also a deeply contextual question – an effective peacebuilding strategy in one setting may prove futile in another. In an effort to mitigate these challenges, this thesis evaluates the effectiveness of peacebuilding CSOs on their own terms. It asks individual CSOs what they consider effectiveness to look like and consist of, and the steps required to achieve it. We can assume that CSOs employ a range of peacebuilding strategies, activities and functions in an attempt to meet their objectives, but we have little understanding as to which activities are deemed the most effective and the reasons why, while we are equally unsure of the criteria employed by CSOs to determine whether an activity is effective or not. The investigation required detailed research of peacebuilding CSOs, which could only be achieved by undertaking an ethnographical approach comprising of semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The research has overall found that CSOs are forced to adapt if they are to make an effective peacebuilding contribution. This involves, in the first instance, devising strategies enabling them to maintain their operational autonomy and independence in the face of political, legal and economic restrictions. It is only by safeguarding themselves from interference and obstruction that they can contemplate making a constructive peacebuilding impact according to the interests and priorities of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. This is not the extent of the CSOs’ adaptations, as they also realise that new, innovative and experimental interventions are needed if they are to make an effective peacebuilding contribution at both the micro (people-to-people) and macro (broader conflict dynamics and decision-making) level. Domestic political opposition towards peacebuilding, coupled with the lack of enthusiasm and momentum among the Cypriot population, means CSOs cannot rely on conventional interventions that have served them well in more positive times. As we shall see, their adaptations and attempts at diversifying their approach do not guarantee success, but at least demonstrate the CSOs’ resilience in the face of far-reaching issues, challenges and limitations.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Barrow, Mark

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mette, Eilstrup-Sangiovanni

• Peacebuilding
• Conflict Resolution
• Civil Society
• Non-Governmental Organisations
• Ethnography
• Cyprus
• Frozen Conflict
• Civil Conflict

Licence

• https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/3bdb3faf-430c-40c2-add8-9617d7d05289/download
• http://purl.org/NET/rdflicense/allrightsreserved

Language dc:language

eng

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.123983

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/393813