Greek Cypriot nationalism, also known asCypriot Hellenism, is a form ofethnic nationalism emphasising theGreekness of theCypriot nation. It is not the same asGreek nationalism, the main goal of which is the integration of Cyprus into Greece—a process known asenosis. Having abandoned the idea ofenosis, Greek Cypriot nationalists now aim to establish a Greek Cypriot-controlled state withclose relations to Greece, which they see as their "motherland".[1] Variants of Greek Cypriot nationalism have been espoused across Cyprus' political spectrum by the centre-leftMovement for Social Democracy, the centre-rightDemocratic Party andDemocratic Rally, and the right-wingNew Horizons, as well as theChurch of Cyprus.[1]
TheTurkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 led to an initial marginalisation of Greek Cypriot nationalism and the consequent rise ofCypriotism, in opposition to traditional Greek nationalism;[2] however, the 1981 election ofAndreas Papandreou as Prime Minister of Greece with his policies of "nationalising" the Cyprus problem and his February 1982 visit to Cyprus led to a renewal of Greek Cypriot nationalism.[3] In November 1993, Papandreou and President of CyprusGlafcos Clerides announced the merging of Greek and Cypriot foreign and defense policies under a new "Joint Defense Space Doctrine", and Cyprus became a member of theEuropean Union in 2004, which was seen as the best possible alternative to full-blownenosis. Opponents of the move included Turkish Cypriot leaderRauf Denktaş, who called it "enosis through the back door".[4]
Greek Cypriot nationalism and Cypriotism contrasts, with opposing views on the causes and solutions for theCyprus dispute, which correspond to right–left political opposition.[2] The slogan for Greek Cypriot nationalism is "Cyprus is Greek", while Cypriotism's slogan is "Cyprus belongs to its people".[2]
The Ottoman Empire ceded administration of Cyprus to the United Kingdom with the secretCyprus Convention (1878). DuringWorld War I, the British formally annexed Cyprus as acrown colony. The1950 referendum on unification with Greece, organized by the Orthodox Church, with only Greek Cypriot vote eligibility, ended with 96% approval.[5] Greece appealed to the UN in 1954 to apply the right for self-determination on Cyprus.[6] TheCypriot intercommunal violence ledUN peacekeeping establishment on the island. TheLondon-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.
The1974 Cypriot coup d'état, staged by theCypriot National Guard andGreek military junta, was successful, but short-lived, as it sparked theTurkish invasion of Cyprus (1974) that led to the fall of the junta and the Turkish occupation of 36.2% of Cyprus' territory. In 1983, the "Turkish Republic ofNorthern Cyprus"was unilaterally declared, but has so far failed to achieve international recognition (it is recognised only byTurkey), and has been under a severeinternational embargo.