Material Afterlives of Division Human and non-human interventions on Modern European Post-Conflict Dividing Walls

Abstract

The construction of dividing walls, ranging from international borders to urban barriers, is accelerating, resulting in the physical fragmentation of communities. As climate change remains unresolved, climate migration is expected to intensify, further exacerbating pressures already evident at borders. At the same time, as populism continues to operate as a political force, there remains a tendency to advocate for and construct additional walls. This doctoral project examines modern European post‑conflict dividing walls, with a particular focus on the Belfast peace lines. It explores interventions that emerge within these borderland spaces, including graffiti and murals, alongside the development of biodiversity resulting from dereliction. The research extends existing understandings of conflict timelines by incorporating the period following the formal declaration of peace, while also addressing the spatial trajectories and material characteristics that shape human and ecological interactions. Using a mixed‑methods approach, the study integrates spatial mapping, digital modelling, and qualitative interviews with peace process NGOs, artists, and policymakers. It culminates in a research‑through‑design framework intended to inform future installations and biodiverse interventions in post‑conflict urban environments.