Conflict in Cities is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council of Great Britain (grant number: RES-060-25-0015)
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Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge
1-5 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK
Kelsey Shanks
Educational Background and Experience:
Undergraduate degree in International Relations and Politics and a PGCE in Religious Education.
Previous experience as a teacher at secondary school level for a number of years in the UK and abroad before coming to Exeter to pursue a PhD.
Main interests lie in the politicisation of religion and ethnicity.
Working Title of Thesis:
Investigating Education management in the divided city of Kirkuk.
Abstract/Main Argument/Field of Enquiry:
The highly contested city of Kirkuk has witnessed growing violence in the anticipation of a referendum to decide its administrative status. The existing literature and examination of the city, focuses heavily on the future governance outcomes and possible administrative status solutions. Little has been written about the everyday lives of citizens and the need for systems of co-existence regardless of who becomes responsible for the city. It is in this context that the thesis seeks to examine the growing ethnic tensions in the city and attempts to investigate their relationship with formal education. With increasing ethnic segregation in education, the thesis will aim to examine the provision of education in the city, asking whether the system carries the potential to exacerbate the wider political contest over the city. It will focus on education management to determine whether the education structure has been sufficiently shielded from the associated negative potential of education in fragile environments.
E-Mail: kjweightman@yahoo.com
PhD students:
Anita Bakshi
Architecture, University of Cambridge (Nicosia)
Giulia Carabelli
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Mostar)
Monika Halkort
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Nahr el Bared 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
Annie Kane-Horrigan
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Belfast)
Brendan Browne
Sociology, Queens University Belfast (Ramallah/Belfast)