WALLS FOR FREEDOM?

"Walls for Freedom? Divided cities in a global age: Padua, Ceuta & Melilla, Belfast and Berlin"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Porous borders and walls seem to be a contradiction in terms, yet they coexist in contemporary societies. This project aims to asses this contradiction by exploring the impact of walls in contemporary European cities. As urban artifacts walls are a contentious figure: not friendly, but embodying security; not totally urban, but defining urbanity and civility; not a common good, but representing the distinctive line between one specific community from another. By tracing the historical, cultural, socio-political and economic arguments for erecting walls in Padua (2006), Ceuta/Melilla (1998/2001), Belfast (1970’s) and Berlin (1961) this project explores the impact of walls in ordinary city life in a twofold way. On the one hand it questions the effectiveness of walls as an instrument for conflict resolution, while on the other hand it addresses the moral understanding they provoke at the level of institutions and lay persons. By combining approaches and methods of historical and social science research, this project creates the necessary conditions for responding to the main questions it asks how walls shape everyday practices, and how these practices in turn accommodate, legitimate or challenge the presence of walls in each of the selected settings. Thus, this project aims to study the impact of walls for urban social life and the way in which they are incorporated and absorbed within the daily routines by the inhabitants of the above-mentioned cities. By comparing different historical and spatial contexts/conflicts in which walls have been built, the project is expected to further the understanding, current validity and legitimacy of this archaic urban form in contemporary European societies. This understanding will not only enhance the scholarly fields of urban history and socio-political theory, but it will also facilitate a possible dialogue between academics, civil society actors and policy-makers over main problems affecting the future of European cities'

Introduzione (Teaser)

In Europe, the movement of people and trade is encouraged, and the dividing line between specific communities is often blurred. Yet within our modern society, there exist walls that are intended to separate people.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

'Walls for freedom? divided cities in a global age: Padua, Ceuta & Melilla, Belfast and Berlin' (Walls for freedom?) is an EU-funded project that has investigated the role of walls in several modern European cities, namely Padua (Italy), Belfast (UK) and Berlin (Germany). The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco have also been studied.

Although the walls were constructed to improve security for citizens, they have also resulted in dividing one community from another. The initiative has investigated the reasons behind the construction of these barriers and examined their effectiveness in resolving conflict.

The project has also analysed the ways in which walls can generate a system of belief and cultural practices that legitimise official decisions to intervene in the urban environment. Paradoxically, these barriers control and segregate communities at a time when urban multiculturalism and the global movement of populations are being promoted.

Research conducted by the Walls for freedom? project will help shed light on the impact of separating different communities with a physical barrier. The initiative's findings can be used to gain a better understanding of urban conflict and segregation.