Abstract
The study examines how the two Cypriot leaders – the Greek-Cypriot community leader Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish-Cypriot community leader Mustafa Akinci –have used their Twitter accounts during the period leading to the intensification of the Cyprus peace process between 30 April 2015– 30 November 2016. This paper uses descriptive analysis and thematic analysis of how the two leaders have used Twitter in the negotiations’ period. The analysis shows that the leaders during the timeframe examined, developed both pro-peace discourses around the Cyprus problem as well as parasocial and vicarious intergroup contact that contributed in what Hogg (2015) defines an intergroup relational identity that is an effective form of “bridging” leadership across communities. The paper argues that Twitter is a tool that in the hands of political leaders in segregated public spheres caused by yet unresolved ethnic conflicts, can become a useful tool for constructing both a positive meaning around issues concerning the rival sides as well as a tool for transforming opposing social identities in the formation of an “extended sense of self that includes the collaboration partner” (Hogg 2015, p.191).
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Communications and Linguistic Studies
KEYWORDS
Twitter, Cyprus-problem, Public-sphere, Intergroup-vicarious, Parasocial-contact, Intergroup-relational-identity
