Widening Participation: How Cypriot Peacebuilding Practitioners are Responding to the “Usual Suspects” Problem

Abstract

While successful peacebuilding efforts require official, top-level negotiations (Track 1), scholars and practitioners agree that facilitating contact and dialogue at the grassroots level is instrumental in reducing prejudice, building trust, and increasing community members’ commitment to peaceful coexistence. However, grassroots-level peace interventions, such as intercommunal training activities and peace education workshops, frequently suffer from the “usual suspects” problem, becoming dominated by people who already are persuaded of the benefits of reconciliation. The problem is widespread in Cyprus, with researchers asserting that the island’s peacebuilding practitioners need to adopt strategies—or “theories of change”—that can engage a broader spectrum of the population. This article explores the usual suspects problem by focusing on a group of practitioners and their engagement strategies. It argues that interventions that conceal their connection to peacebuilding and provide opportunities relating to people’s everyday activities, interests, and livelihoods are more likely to engage individuals who are indifferent to the idea of building peaceful relations.