Conflict in Cities is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council of Great Britain (grant number: RES-060-25-0015)
For website general enquiries, please contact: info@conflictincities.org
Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge
1-5 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK
Brendan Browne
Educational Background and Experience:
Undergraduate degree in Law (LLB) from Queen’s University Belfast
Masters Degree in Law and Human Rights (LLM) from Queen’s University Belfast. A dissertation submitted as part of the Masters programme addressed the controversial issue of dealing with the past in Northern Ireland and explored the role which education may assume in any future truth and reconciliation process.
Currently working towards a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast, associated with but not a member of the Conflict in Cities Research Programme.Working Title of Thesis:
Commemorations in conflicted cities: the limits of solidarity
Abstract/Main Argument/Field of Enquiry:This research examines the role of commemorative events in displaying evidence of factionalism within nationalist groupings. Situated in the context of two cities at different stages on the conflict spectrum, the research is framed using units for comparison within each event: the use of factional/unifying symbolism, the sharing/division of time and the sharing/division of space. Availing of qualitative methods deriving from the ethnographic tradition, the research will collect data from two highly significant nationalist commemorative events. The chosen sample events are the most important annual commemorative events for the communities concerned. Data gathered by semi-structured interviews with event organisers and from observation of the event will be analysed thematically and compared with the intention of providing points of similarity and differentiation in the display of factionalism within nationalist commemorative events in the chosen conflicted cities. This research is designed to contribute to the wider discussion about nationalist solidarity and its cultural expression through commemorative practices in relation to societies experiencing conflict or a period of transition from conflict.
Funding support from a Department of Employment and Learning (NI) PhD studentship, a Sir Robert Hart Scholarship, a Council For British Research in the Levant Scholarship, a grant from the School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work Internationalisation Fund, and a Department of Education & Learning, Northern Ireland, Research Support
Grant is gratefully acknowledged.
Contact email address: bbrowne02@qub.ac.uk
PhD Students:
Anita Bakshi
Architecture, University of Cambridge (Nicosia)
Giulia Carabelli
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Mostar)
Monika Halkort
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Nahr al-Bard refugee camp, Tripoli, Lebanon)
Konstantin Kastrissianakis
Architecture, University of Cambridge (Beirut)
Karl O'Connor
Politics, University of Exeter (Brussels, Nicosia and Beirut)
Linda Rootamm
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Berlin)
Kelsey Shanks
Politics, University of Exeter (Kirkuk)
Affiliated Graduates
Gruia Badescu
Architecture, University of Cambridge
Brendan Browne
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Ramallah/Belfast
Andrew Hoolachan
Architecture, University of Cambridge (London
Irit Katz Feigis
Architecture, University of Cambridge
Annie Kane-Horrigan
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Belfast)