Public Space as a Catalyst of Peaceful Dialogue

After the armed civil conflict in Moldova, which ended in a ceasefire in July 1992, complete peaceful cohabitation still hasn’t been achieved - the society remains divided. The country is characterized by ethnic and linguistic diversity, different historical perspectives, identity uncertainty, slow economic development and political distrust due to corruption. Moldova is not the only country experiencing difficulties of this kind: there have been dozens of conflicts all over the world since 1990, leading to 70.8 million forcibly displaced persons by 2019, mainly as a result of violence. This situation represents a great challenge and urgency for reconstruction in post-conflict areas. When it comes to Moldova the problem of social tensions must be addressed urgently in order to unlock the country's development potential, to stimulate the collaboration between ethnic sub-groups and the realization of equal human rights within the country.

My research question in this project is: How can space boost a process of reconciliation in a multi-ethnic environment after a conflict? I have explored the values base of a diverse target group for the definition of a programme type that would attract people of diverse backgrounds. I also explored how space can trigger either negative feelings, adding to social tension, or positive feelings, stimulating collaboration. Finally, I worked together with local community people, peace-making experts, a psychologist and a public figure to design a multilingual theatre school for children in a city park.