Coexisting in the Divided City the Differences Made by Shared Public Spaces to Cross-Community Relations in Jerusalem, Belfast and Brussels

Coexisting in the Divided City The differences made by shared public spaces to cross-community relations in Jerusalem, Belfast and Brussels. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin 2016 Julia Murphy Declaration I declare that this thesis has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at this or any other university and it is entirely my own work. I agree to deposit this thesis in the University’s open access institutional repository or allow the Library to do so on my behalf, subject to Irish Copyright Legislation and Trinity College Library conditions of use and acknowledgement. Summary This thesis aims to determine whether shared public spaces enhance the level and quality of cross-community relations in divided cities such as Jerusalem, Belfast and Brussels; and what differences such spaces can make to intergroup relations in contested cities. Research therefore consisted of a selection of three different types of shared public spaces – an open area, a park and a shopping centre – in the three cities of Jerusalem, Belfast and Brussels. Methodology-wise, a combination of observation, documentary research and semi-structured interviews was carried out in the three case study cities in order to explore the daily use of shared public spaces. As regards the theoretical basis of the thesis, the intergroup contact theory – which posits that more contact leads to less prejudice – was identified as most relevant for the study of coexistence and intergroup relations in specific spaces within divided cities. However, certain weaknesses of the contact hypothesis perspective were revealed, leading to its combination with notions from Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault drawing more focus on certain key aspects including society, power relations, discourse and domination – all crucial to study the use of public space in a contested city. The selection of the three cities was based on the interest in comparing different contexts of internal conflict, and how such variations may influence the use of space and intergroup relations in the city. Cities experiencing different levels of intergroup conflict were thus chosen – Jerusalem, with an ongoing occasionally violent conflict, Belfast with an ongoing peace process (post-conflict), and Brussels with an ongoing non-violent conflict. By analysing the same types of spaces in three different cities, this study hopes to provide further understanding of the importance of wider contexts but also the particularity of the urban environment when attempting to implement conflict transformation efforts in divided cities. Research in Jerusalem revealed that only limited levels of cross-community interaction occurred in shared public spaces; leading to the conclusion that within the wider context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shared spaces in the city are not expected to make any differences or improvements to intergroup relations. Yet research findings also showed that the selected shared spaces were used on average by both Israelis and Palestinians in a neutral and non-confrontational manner. Therefore the use of shared public spaces during the period of field research led to peaceful coexistence between the different communities in Jerusalem. i Research findings in Belfast also revealed minimal levels of intergroup contact between individuals using shared public spaces in the city centre. However, more cross-community interaction was observed during specific events taking place within the selected spaces which were specifically destined towards bringing the Catholic and Protestant communities closer together. This led to the conclusion that in the specific context of post-conflict Belfast, where dominant political discourses are increasingly underlining the necessity for shared spaces, shared public spaces can occasionally make a minimal effect on intergroup relations in the city. Research in Brussels showed again that only limited forms of cross-community interaction occurred within the selected shared spaces. Despite the absence of violence between the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities in the city, Belgium is nevertheless a deeply divided society where intergroup contact is rare. While the context is void of serious conflict, the current political situation may be described as one where the two linguistic communities are drifting further apart, with no interest or desire to come closer. Brussels remains the only bilingual region, where members of both linguistic communities live in close proximity. At the very least, the sharing of space in the capital is therefore understood as important for maintaining intergroup relations in the country. Following the comparative study and analysis of the research findings in the three cities, the thesis argues that the presence of shared public spaces in divided cities generally does not enhance levels of cross-community contact; at least not in a systematic manner. However, these spaces do offer the possibility for increased interaction between different communities who may rarely come across each other. Shared public spaces are therefore not believed to make any notable or short-term differences to intergroup relations in Jerusalem, Belfast and Brussels. Yet their value in normalising diversity and exposure to other community should be acknowledged. This thesis therefore concludes that on a longer term basis, shared spaces may be somewhat beneficial to intergroup relations in divided cities. ii Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to express my immense gratitude and thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Etain Tannam. Despite having to take over my project at the beginning of my second year of studies, Etain has provided invaluable support, feedback and encouragement during the crucial time of field research. Her guidance and suggestions have helped me steer my PhD project and ultimately produce the following piece of work. I also wish to thank my first supervisor, Dr. David Tombs, who advised me during the critical first foundational year of the PhD and therefore helped me produce a strong basis for the rest of my studies, before moving to New Zealand. His structured approach and recommendations were greatly appreciated, even his suggestion that ‘it might be better to refer to the summer term, rather than the summer holidays’. Special thanks also go to other members of the Irish School of Ecumenics, including Dr. Gladys Ganiel for offering guidance for field research approaches, Bríd O’ Brian for library-related advice, but also Caroline Clarke and Karen Nicholson for their availability and support, as well as David Mitchell and Brendan Browne for their suggestions and tips regarding PhD life and work. I wish to thank the regular coffee break companions, who always brightened the day, even in the midst of intense periods of study. I would also like to express my thanks and immense gratitude to my research interview participants; Michael Alexander, Marik Shtern, Haim Yacobi, Mandy Turner, Mohamed Owedah, Jodie Asaraf, Gideon Solimani, Rami Nasrallah, Hillel Bardin, Montaser Amro and Amneh Badran in Jerusalem; Chris O’Halloran, Milena Komarova, Stephen Pearson, Richard Dougherty, Ciaran McLaughlin, members of the ForthSpring Youth Club, Martin McMullan, Louise Mallon, Sheila Morris, Gareth Harper, David Boyd and Joe O’Donnell in Belfast; and Serge Govaert, Anne Herscovici, Philippe van Parijs, Mark Elchardus, Eric Corijn, Kris Deschouwer, Philippe Delstanche, Bernard and Conchita Kinoo, Alain Maskens, Alain Joris, Leen de Spiegelaere, Sophie Alexandre and Miriam Stoffen in Brussels; as well as those participants who wished to remain anonymous. Without their generous and gracious participation, the completion of this thesis would not have been possible. I also wish to thank Frank Gaffikin and Rudi Janssens who provided additional crucial information after the period of field research; and I wish to express my immense gratitude to Professor Scott Bollens for his generous contribution during the final stages of my work. I also convey my gratitude for the help and tips offered by Mick Dumper and Ray Dolphin before and during the field research; as well as the help provided by Suhad Sukallah. iii Finally, I wish to thank my family who has been immensely supportive during these years of study. In particular, I thank my parents for their encouragement, presence and constant care for my wellbeing; and my sisters Céline and Anna, whose company helped take some distance from the occasionally grim aspect of studying ethnic conflict. A special mention goes to the family cat, Mina, who was constantly by my side during the last few weeks of thesis completion and submission. I also wish to express a last thanks to my late grandparents Olive and Vince Murphy; whose first-hand experience of World War Two, as well as their faith and pacifism remain an inspiration. Go raibh maith agaibh. iv Table of Contents Declaration ........................................................................................................................................2 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... ix List of Images

Load more