Exploring children's perceptions of forgiveness at the interpersonal and political levels: emerging evidence in Cyprus

Abstract

This article presents a case study of an action research investigation at a Greek-Cypriot classroom that explores 10–11-year-old children's perceptions of forgiveness at both the interpersonal and the political levels. The study indicates that participant children view forgiveness from a variety of perspectives that do not seem to differ a lot from adults; these perspectives, although not fully mature, reveal the complex elements of offering and asking for forgiveness. The following three perspectives are identified in the findings: children's reasons to ask for forgiveness; children's views on the conditions to offer forgiveness and children's perceptions of forgiveness at the political level. The findings have important implications for designing educational interventions on forgiveness.

Keywords:

• forgiveness
• children
• action research
• Cyprus

Notes

The Turkish invasion of 1974 divided Cyprus and caused heavy Greek-Cypriot casualties (thousands of dead and missing), forcing 200,000 Greek Cypriots (one third of the total population) to be displaced from their homeland and move to the south. Also, 45,000 Turkish-Cypriots (one fourth of the total population) were displaced to the northern side. The conflict between the two communities goes back for decades (e.g. in the 1960s, the Turkish-Cypriots were the main victims of conflict and were forced to live in ethnic enclaves). Since 1974, the ‘Green Line’ divides Cyprus, separating the two communities and deepening even further the antagonism between them and the status quo, despite numerous diplomatic efforts for a peaceful settlement. In the spring of 2003, the Turkish-Cypriot side permitted unfettered access across the dividing Green Line, yet the ‘Cyprus Issue’ remains unresolved.