Greek Cypriot nationalism

Greek Cypriot nationalism is an ethnic nationalism emphasising Greekness (a Greek identity, also called "Hellenism") of the Cypriot nation. Having abandoned the idea of enosis (unification of Cyprus with Greece), Greek Cypriot nationalists now have the aim of a Greek Cypriot-controlled state with close relations to Greece, the "motherland". Variants of the nationalism have been espoused by the centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO), the far-right New Horizons, Socialists (EDEK), the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, and elements of moderate right Democratic Rally (DISY).

The successful Turkish invasion of Cyprus (1974) led to the marginalisation of Greek Cypriot nationalism and rise of Cypriotism, in opposition to Greek Cypriot and Greek Turkish nationalism. Greek Cypriot nationalism and Cypriotism contrasts, with opposing views on Cyprus dispute causes and solution perspectives, corresponding to right-left political opposition. The slogan for Greek Cypriot nationalism is "Cyprus belongs to Greece", while for Cypriotism it is "Cyprus belongs to its people".

History

Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus.

The Ottoman Empire ceded administration of Cyprus to the United Kingdom with the secret Cyprus Convention (1878). During World War I, the British formally annexed Cyprus as a crown colony. The 1950 referendum on unification with Greece, organized by the Orthodox Church, with only Greek Cypriot vote eligibility, ended with 96% approval. Greece appealed to the UN in 1954 to apply the right for self-determination on Cyprus. The Cypriot conflict (1955–64) led to Greek Cypriot victory and UN peacekeeping establishment on the island. The London-Zürich Agreements led to the independence of Cyprus, proclaimed on 16 August 1960. Several coups were staged by Orthodox bishops against Makarios III in March 1972 to July 1973. The 1974 Cypriot coup d'état, staged by the Cypriot National Guard and Greek military junta, was successful, but short-lived, as it sparked the Turkish invasion of Cyprus (1974) that led to the fall of the junta and the Turkish occupation of 36.2% territory. In 1983, the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" was unilaterally declared.

Political parties

Active

• Democratic Party (DIKO), centrist, founded in 1976, 9/56 seats
• Solidarity Movement, founded in 2016, 3/56 seats
• National Popular Front (ELAM), founded in 2008, 2/56 seats
• Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK), founded in 1969, 3/56 seats

Defunct

• Patriotic Front, active 1959–69, split into United Party, Progressive Front, Progressive Party and Democratic National Party
• Progressive Front, active 1970–76, merged into Democratic Rally
• Democratic National Party, active 1968–77, merged into Democratic Rally
• United Party, active 1969–76, split into Democratic Rally and Democratic Party
• European Party, active 2005–15, merged into Solidarity Movement

See also

• History of Cyprus since 1878
• Cyprus dispute

Sources

• Colin Hay; Anand Menon (18 January 2007). European Politics. OUP Oxford. pp. 125–. ISBN 978-0-19-928428-3.
• Mirca Madianou (12 November 2012). Mediating the Nation. Routledge. pp. 40–. ISBN 978-1-136-61105-6.
• Alexios Alecou (16 June 2016). Communism and Nationalism in Postwar Cyprus, 1945-1955: Politics and Ideologies Under British Rule. Springer. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-3-319-29209-0.
• Andrew Borowiec (2000). Cyprus: A Troubled Island. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-0-275-96533-4.

Further reading

• Leonard W. Doob (June 1986). "Cypriot Patriotism and Nationalism". The Journal of Conflict Resolution. 30 (2). Sage Publications, Inc.: 383–396. JSTOR 174259.