Cyprus untied? New prospects and old challenges for the resumption of talks
Leading scholars will explore whether new momentum can overcome long‑standing divisions and help restart talks.
Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical fragmentation and regional instability, our panel of experts will examine whether renewed talks on the Cyprus question can succeed, and what key obstacles may stand in the way of progress.
Meet our speakers and chair
Dr Sinem Arslan is a Visiting Fellow at the LSE Centre for Research on Contemporary Greece and Cyprus - Hellenic Observatory. She holds two master’s degrees, from LSE and Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, and completed her PhD at the University of Essex on the transnational dynamics of civil war peace processes. Her areas of expertise include civil wars and comparative peace processes, with a special emphasis on secessionist conflicts and the de facto states that emerge in the aftermath of such conflicts. Using qualitative, quantitative, and GIS mapping techniques, her research investigates the dynamics of political violence and peace processes comparatively. Dr Arslan has taught various modules on civil war dynamics, conflict, and peace processes, as well as on de facto states, and has been involved in numerous peacebuilding and peace education projects in the Middle East and Africa. Her recent research project investigates patron–client relations in de facto states and their implications for peace processes.
Neophytos Loizides is a Professor of International Conflict Analysis at the University of Warwick. His research and teaching focuses on citizens and political institution building within violently divided societies, forced migration studies and the study of displaced and migrant communities. He has been awarded an ERC advanced grant PEACERETURN that focuses on the study of peaceful voluntary return and durable solutions to displacement. He also currently leads the Inclusive Peace project funded by an Open Research Area (ORA7) in collaboration with the ESRC (UK), SSHRC (Canada), ANR (France/New Caledonia) and JSPS (Japan). He has authored several books and more than fifty academic articles and book chapters in the areas of forced displacement, nationalism and conflict regulation in deeply divided societies
Alex Michaelides is a Professor of Finance at Imperial College Business School since September 2013, and Research Fellow at CEPR (International Macroeconomics and Financial Economics Programmes). Alexander was previously a lecturer (2001-2006) and associate professor (2006-2010) at the Department of Economics, London School of Economics, and a professor of finance at the Department of Public and Business Administration, University of Cyprus in 2010-2014. Before that he was lecturer (1998-2000) and assistant professor (2000-2001) at the Department of Economics, University of Cyprus. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University (1997) and a B.A. in Economics from Harvard (1993). He currently serves as Director of Post Graduate Studies at the Business School (since September 2023).
Vassilis Monastiriotis is Director, LSE Centre for Research on Contemporary Greece and Cyprus - Hellenic Observatory, Professor in Political Economy and Eleftherios Venizelos Chair of Contemporary Greek Studies at the European Institute, LSE.
More about this event
The Hellenic Observatory (@HO_LSE) is internationally recognised as a leading research centre on contemporary Greece and Cyprus. In 2024, it became the LSE Centre for Research on Contemporary Greece and Cyprus, with a strategy to expand its research base within LSE and beyond. The Centre produces world-leading, non-partisan research, critically engaging with key issues and fostering debate among academics, policymakers, and the public. Its work spans academic research, knowledge exchange, and policy impact.
Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Twitter, YouTube.
Join our mailing list to receive news about our events and activities.
From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.
Whilst we are hosting this listing, LSE Events does not take responsibility for the running and administration of this event. While we take responsible measures to ensure that accurate information is given here this event is ultimately the responsibility of the organisation presenting the event.
LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.