British Cyprus, 1878–1915

Hyphenated Identities: Voices from the Watchtower During the Cypriot Civil War

“…The social constructivist approachwhich guides this studybuilds on the fundamental assumption that the essence of ethno-national identity is a collection of imagined and manufactured ideas, for instance, conventions regarding which people ought to be excluded or included in social groups (Kaufman 2001, 23). In agreeing with Varnava's (2009) apt statement that "identity is predicated upon perceptions not facts," identification with a given ethno-national group will be seen as a matter of political imagination rather than an objective reality in the context of this investigation (23). Such an understanding is evident in Anderson's (2006) influential conceptualization of the nation as an "imagined political community" (6) and in Hobsbawm's (2012) characterization of national formations as "all-embracing pseudo-communities" (10).…”

“…Situated in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprusthe subject of the present case studyhas remained divided along ethno-national lines for a significant portion of its modern history (Anagiotos 2016). The mid-20th century Cypriot Civil War (Varnava 2013) and the subsequent Turkish invasion and partition of the island in 1974 (Kaufmann 2007) have led to the formation of psychological wounds amongst members of the separated Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot ethnic groups that time has yet to "heal" (Bryant 2012). It is such scarring wounds and the seemingly perpetual partition that emphasize the particular social significance of understanding the processes of boundary-making in Cyprus.…”

“…In spite of the evident merit in providing a concise summary of the competing ethnonationalist ideological currents that have often been utilized by Cypriot political elites to mobilize the two ethnic groups, Loizides' (2007) analysis exemplifies a broader gap that exists in the literature regarding identity construction in Cyprus. In conducting macro-historical analyses (Loizides 2007;Mavratsas 1999;Papadakis 1998), scholars have often neglected to mention or probe the Cypriot Civil War, which bore consequences that are still present in the contemporary context (Varnava 2013). Heeding Varnava's (2013) calls for further historical research about the understudied Cypriot Civil War, this study aims to examine the discursive framing strategies of the foremost Greek-Cypriot political elite figures who assumed the de-facto control of the Republic of Cyprus and the majority of Cypriot territory (Dodd 2010, 71), throughout the conflict (1963)(1964)(1965)(1966)(1967).…”

“…In conducting macro-historical analyses (Loizides 2007;Mavratsas 1999;Papadakis 1998), scholars have often neglected to mention or probe the Cypriot Civil War, which bore consequences that are still present in the contemporary context (Varnava 2013). Heeding Varnava's (2013) calls for further historical research about the understudied Cypriot Civil War, this study aims to examine the discursive framing strategies of the foremost Greek-Cypriot political elite figures who assumed the de-facto control of the Republic of Cyprus and the majority of Cypriot territory (Dodd 2010, 71), throughout the conflict (1963)(1964)(1965)(1966)(1967).…”

“…Civil War, this study also aids in providing a clearer understanding of the historical processes of ethno-nationalism in Cyprus. Citizenson both sides of the dividemaintain antagonistic narratives of the events that transpired during that period, blaming only the other side (Bryant 2012;Varnava 2013). In this regard, a better understanding of the process and strategies of ethnonational boundary-making may help to prevent the further perpetuation of divisive politics on the partitioned island.…”