“YOU WOULD BE ME, AND I WOULD BE YOU”: LANGAUGE AS PEACEBUILDING IN THE CASE OF HADE

The report examines the role of language in the Cyprus conflict, arguing that the formal sidelining of linguistic diversity in peace negotiations has entrenched division. It highlights the work of the grassroots organisation HADE, which uses language exchange as a tool for trust-building, and critiques the Republic of Cyprus's current educational and administrative policies for failing to provide systemic support for bilingualism. The author proposes institutionalising language through a Multilingual Technical Committee, national campaigns, and the integration of language and peace education.

• Formal peacebuilding efforts in Cyprus have largely ignored the role of language in reconciliation and governance, treating linguistic concerns as cultural matters for civil society rather than priority policy issues.
• While the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) officially recognises both Greek and Turkish, its practical implementation is limited; for example, government websites for Adult Education Centres and State Institutes of Further Education are not available in Turkish.
• Interviews with HADE teachers reveal that the over-reliance on English in peace-related events and negotiations acts as a barrier to genuine inclusion and prevents participants from leaving their 'comfort zones'.
• Language learning is insufficient for reconciliation if not paired with a pedagogy that challenges divisive historical narratives and dominant discourses in schools.
• Cypriot dialects are identified as a potential foundation for a shared identity and a bridge between communities if they are validated and institutionalised.

APA

PSARA, D. (2025). “YOU WOULD BE ME, AND I WOULD BE YOU”: LANGAUGE AS PEACEBUILDING IN THE CASE OF HADE. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/c36ce7aa-547e-44c2-9896-e28298b09000/DPsara 2025 UCY.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

PSARA, DESPINA. “YOU WOULD BE ME, AND I WOULD BE YOU”: LANGAUGE AS PEACEBUILDING IN THE CASE OF HADE. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2025. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/c36ce7aa-547e-44c2-9896-e28298b09000/DPsara 2025 UCY.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=PSARA |first1=DESPINA |title=“YOU WOULD BE ME, AND I WOULD BE YOU”: LANGAUGE AS PEACEBUILDING IN THE CASE OF HADE |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2025 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/c36ce7aa-547e-44c2-9896-e28298b09000/DPsara 2025 UCY.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{psara2025you, author = {PSARA, DESPINA}, title = {{“YOU WOULD BE ME, AND I WOULD BE YOU”: LANGAUGE AS PEACEBUILDING IN THE CASE OF HADE}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2025}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/c36ce7aa-547e-44c2-9896-e28298b09000/DPsara 2025 UCY.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }