Zoe Louka – 16/11/2024
The emergence of two distinct nationalisms in Cyprus, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, can be traced back to British colonial rule. The British policy of divide and rule exacerbated ethnic divisions, framing separate identities rather than a unified Cypriot identity. Greek Cypriot nationalism, driven by the desire for enosis (union with Greece), was influenced by developments in mainland Greece, while Turkish Cypriot nationalism emerged partly in reaction to this Greek hegemonic nationalism and the political shifts in mainland Türkiye. The differing ruling-class interests between the two communities intensified rivalry and competition throughout the 1950s and 1960s culminating in the Greek Cypriot right organising around EOKA for enosis and the Turkish Cypriot nationalist response around taksim (partition).