Architecture for Positive Peace: the Role of Architecture in the Process of Peacebuilding Within Conflict and Postwar Contexts
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ARCHITECTURE FOR POSITIVE PEACE: THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE PROCESS OF PEACEBUILDING WITHIN CONFLICT AND POSTWAR CONTEXTS A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati The School of Architecture and Interior Design Of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture By Venus Suleiman Akef March 2019 i ARCHITECTURE FOR POSITIVE PEACE: THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE PROCESS OF PEACEBUILDING WITHIN CONFLICT AND POSTWAR CONTEXTS Venus Suleiman Akef University of Cincinnati 2019 ABSTRACT This dissertation introduces architecture as an active platform in the process of structural conflict transformation for positive peace in post-war and conflict contexts. It is an interdisciplinary research in which architecture operationalizes the theories of peace and peacebuilding. Architecture for/of positive peace is also a response to the United Nations’ objectives in its 2030 agenda for sustainable development through a subject as distinct as architecture and relates it to the process of conflict transformation and sustainable peacebuilding. This research is initiated by questioning whether architecture can be employed as an active platform for positive peace. Further, it considers the role of architecture in the process of peacebuilding, its key devices, and operating characteristics. This dissertation analyzes both the existing discourses of ‘architecture and war’ and ‘architecture and peace’ to derive a set of themes and implications that reveal the role of architecture in the process of peacebuilding in post-war and conflict contexts. The research emphasizes theories of peace and peacebuilding, specifically the propositions of Johan Galtung and John Paul Lederach from the discipline of peace studies, in the aim of building a theoretical ii framework for peacebuilding through which it is possible to activate the role of architecture for positive peace. Based on the concluded theoretical framework, architecture for positive peace is distinguished from architecture for negative peace, and its characteristics are defined. Architecture for/of positive peace is a complex, inclusive, belonging, and common-ground platform. It manifests either as an ‘assemblage’ (the physical visible form of architecture), as a space of ‘relational identity,’ or both. iii iv For Iraq For Peace and Peacebuilders For Mark W. Harris, MLOW and ELS Educational Services For Ramu Damodaran The United Nations Academic Impact For Aveen and Vivian And, For my beloved parents, may their soul rest in peace To those who took my hands and helped me continue when I was about to quit v LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE DESCRIPTION PAGE NO. 1.01 Every Death Mapped in Iraq, [Source: Simon Rogers, The Guardian of London 3 at https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/oct/23/wikileaks- iraq-data-journalism]. 1.02 This map shows that the social structure within the urban fabric of Baghdad 7 was a mix population in 2003. There was no ethnic majorities and enclaves. http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/Baghdad_Ethnic_2003_lg.jpg 1.03 By 2006, the mix social structure within the urban fabric of Baghdad in had 8 begun to transform into ethnic and religious neighborhoods. The mix population had started to dissolve. Ethnic and religious enclaves had begun to emerge. http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/Baghdad_Ethnic_2006_lg.jpg 1.04 By late 2007 – mid 2008 the demographical structure of Baghdad 9 transformed from a coherent heterogeneous society into fragmented homogeneous groups. The city was clearly divided into Ethnic and religious enclaves. http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/Baghdad_Ethnic_2007_late_lg. jpg 1.05 Scope and limitations of the research: the two scenarios of post-conflict 23 context in relation with peace missions, theories of peace, and architecture, [Source: diagram by the author]. 2.01 The fortified aid compounds in South Sudan. [Source: Diana Felix da Costa, 35 2012 in http://www.bris.ac.uk/media-library/sites/global- insecurities/migrated/documents/felix.pdf]. 2.02 Image of the concrete walls in West Bank and an Israeli military watchtower 37 [Source: APA images] 2.03 The Israel’s security wall along and in the West Bank [Source: Photo by Flickr 37 contributor Wall in Palestine at vi https://www.flickr.com/photos/43405897@N04/4401887379/in/photostre am/] 2.04 The Samarra mosque, (the sacred al-Askari Shrine): before and after terrorist 40 attack [Source: Public domain] 2.05 On September 12, 1992, during the Bosnian War, cellist Vedran Smailovic 46 plays Strauss inside the National Library in Sarajevo which was bombed-out in August 1992 by the forces of JNA and the Army of the Republic of Serbia (VRS). [Source: Public Domain]. 2.06 Cellist Kareem Wasfi plays music in front of the destroyed historical Al- 46 Hadba' Minaret of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, which was bombed-out by ISIL on 21 June 2017, during the Battle of Mosul in Iraq. [Source: Middle East Online, Public Domain]. 2.07 Sarajevo Times: After 24 years of the city Hall and the national Library 47 destruction. [Source: Sarajevo Times, 2016]. 2.08 A so-called "Peace Line" in Belfast, separating a Protestant and Catholic 66 neighborhoods from each other. The peace line along Cupar Way in Belfast, seen from the predominantly Protestant side. [Source: Public Domain]. 3.01 The Golden Heart Pavilion in Ein Hawd, Palestine, designed by Malkit 90 Shoshan and FAST, is the first community structure for Ein Hawd and was constructed in July 2008. [Source: Foundation for Achieving Seamless Territory FAST at http://seamlessterritory.org/the-golden-heart-pavilion-first-community- building-for-ein-hawd/ , and Architecture of Peace Case Studies, In Volume: http://archis.org/interventions/architecture-of-peace/case-studies/ein- hawd-one-land-two-systems-palestineisrael/] 3.02 Ein Hawd in Palestine. [Source: Architecture of Peace Case Studies, in 91 Volume: http://archis.org/interventions/architecture-of-peace/case- studies/ein-hawd-one-land-two-systems-palestineisrael/] 3.03 The World Peace Park Area in the DMZ between North and South Korea. 98 [Source: The DMZ Forum http://www.dmzforum.org/gallery/maps] 3.04 The De-militarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea; the most 98 heavily militarized and fortified border in the world. [Source: The Korean vii Times, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/08/113_135526.html] 3.05 The location of the Israeli military base (Oush- Grab) on top of the hill at the 105 entrance of Bethlehem/Beit Sahour area, Palestine. [Source: The Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency DAAR, http://www.decolonizing.ps/site/texts/]. 3.06 Throughout the second Intifada, the Israeli army used the base as 105 headquarter for incursion into Bethlehem and other towns and villages; 195 homes were damaged by gunfire originated in the camp. [Source: The Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency DAAR, http://www.decolonizing.ps/site/texts/]. 3.07 Design Destruction, the Oush- Grab military base. Perforating and drilling 106 holes through the walls of the military base to transform them into screens. [Source: The Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency DAAR, http://www.decolonizing.ps/site/texts/]. 3.08 Design Destruction, the Oush- Grab military base. The buildings were to be 107 partially buried in the rubble of their own fortifications. [Source: The Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency DAAR, http://www.decolonizing.ps/site/texts/]. 3.09 Design Destruction, the Oush- Grab military base. [Source: The Decolonizing 108 Architecture Art Residency DAAR, http://www.decolonizing.ps/site/texts/]. 3.10 The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also known as The Pyramid of Peace 111 and Accord, in Kazakhstan designed by Lord Norman Foster and Partners, 2006. [Source: the official website of Foster+ Partners, https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/palace-of-peace-and- reconciliation/]. 3.11 The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also known as The Pyramid of Peace 112 and Accord, in Kazakhstan designed by Lord Norman Foster and Partners, viii 2006. Section to show the holistic structure of the pyramid which is made up of two parts (above and under the ground levels). [Source: archis.org, Architecture of Peace Case studies, http://archis.org/interventions/architecture-of-peace/case-studies/palace- of-peace-and-reconciliation/]. 3.12 The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also known as The Pyramid of Peace 113 and Accord, in Kazakhstan designed by Lord Norman Foster and Partners, 2006. The upper two rows of triangles, 4 triangles per side, form a glazed apex featuring a design of stained glass by Brian Clarke, incorporating pictures of 130 doves. [Sources: the official website of Foster+ Partners, https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/palace-of-peace-and- reconciliation/ and, archis.org, Architecture of Peace Case studies, http://archis.org/interventions/architecture-of-peace/case-studies/palace- of-peace-and-reconciliation/ ]. 3.13 The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also known as The Pyramid of Peace 114 and Accord, in Kazakhstan designed by Lord Norman Foster and Partners, 2006. The pyramid is bathed in the golden and pale blue glow of the glass, colors taken from the Kazakhstan flag. [Source: the official website of Foster+ Partners, https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/palace-of-peace- and-reconciliation/]. 4.01 Moving towards “Peacekeeping” and “Peacebuilding” after the “End of the 134 War” deploying “Peace-Enforcement forces” [Source: diagram by the author]. 4.02 Moving towards “Peacekeeping” and “Peacebuilding” through a Treaty or 134 Ratified Agreement (without deploying any militarized forces): to end the war/conflict via diplomatic “Peacemaking” mission, [Source: diagram by the author]. ix 4.03 Conflict and Violence are not the same; Violence is the exacerbated phase of 172 unresolved and polarized conflict. [Source: diagram by the Author]. 4.04 Defining negative and positive peace through the thematic definitions – 175 [Source: the Author]. 4.05 Peacebuilding, violence breeding, conflict resolution for negative peace, and 178 conflict transformation for positive peace [Source: diagram by the Author].