Political and cultural memory in urban space: Public naming practices in Northern Cyprus

Abstract

This study examines the socio-political and cultural dimensions of place-naming in Northern Cyprus, revealing how names of streets, squares, and public spaces act as markers of collective memory and identity in a politically complex landscape. Focusing on 18 municipalities, this research demonstrates how place-naming reinforces Turkish Cypriot identity, embedding historical narratives and political symbolism into everyday environments. Contextualized within a broader comparative framework—including post-conflict and post-authoritarian regions such as Eastern Europe and Spain—the study reveals place-naming as both a symbolic and functional practice.

Using a dual-methodological approach, the study combines qualitative analysis to interpret socio-political narratives embedded in place names with quantitative analysis to categorize and visualize naming patterns across municipalities. This integrated approach highlights the complexity of place-naming practices, identifying four primary categories: Important Figures, Important Dates, Martyrs and Veterans, and Neutral Names. Findings indicate that historical and political names are concentrated in specific municipalities, while neutral names are more prevalent in newer developments, suggesting an evolving approach to public memory.

This study contributes to memory and identity studies, demonstrating how place-naming functions as a dynamic expression of public memory, political ideology, and cultural continuity in Northern Cyprus. Future research could expand upon this study by examining local perceptions of place-naming or conducting longitudinal analyses to observe how political and social shifts impact naming conventions.