Cypriot nationalism, also known asCypriotism, refers to one of thenationalisms ofCyprus. It focuses on the shared identity ofGreek Cypriots andTurkish Cypriots regarding their "Cypriotness", highlighting their common Cypriot culture, heritage, traditions, and economic, political, and social rights.[1] Cypriot nationalism supports the peaceful reunification of Cyprus and the end of interference of external powers in its domestic affairs. Some Cypriotists advocate aconfederal orfederal state, while others express a preference for aunitary state instead.[2] Cypriot nationalists consider Cypriots as one nationality and even ethnicity, referring to linguistic distinction between Cypriots as "Greek"-speaking Cypriots and "Turkish"-speaking Cypriots, rather than two separate ethnic groups.
On the level of practical politics, Cypriotism is generally associated with theLeft, both in Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot politics. The most important political parties supporting a Cypriot nationalist agenda are theProgressive Party of Working People (AKEL) among Greek Cypriots and theRepublican Turkish Party (CTP) among Turkish Cypriots. Not all leftists advocate Cypriotism; for example, theMovement for Social Democracy (EDEK) combines a left-wing economic agenda with aGreek Cypriot nationalist approach to the Cyprus problem. Cypriotism is further officially supported by theUnion of Cypriots.[3] There are alsocivil society activists and smaller liberal groups that also hold Cypriotist positions, although their political influence remains arguably limited.
During 1930s,Greek Cypriot andTurkish Cypriot communities began outspokenly criticizing the British presence in the island.[4] The GovernorRichmond Palmer was one of the people who used the term of "Cypriot nationalism" in his report dated 23 October 1936, while explaining the situation to London by mentioning:
In order to have ease in the future on the island, we have to continue the administration on the basis of exceptis excipiendis (opening the way to exceptions), on the basis of districts. Thus the concept of Cypriot nationalism -which will be emerging as a new concept after Enosis becomes an eroded value- should be pushed away as much as possible and left in the dark.[5]
With the rise of the internationalist ideas of bothliberalism and thepolitical Left, variants of a Cypriot identity began to be cultivated and espoused by native Cypriot political groups (both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot), most notably theProgressive Party of Working People (AKEL),[6] the liberalUnited Democrats[1] and organisations like theUnion of Cypriots.[7] TheTurkish invasion of Cyprus, which followed acoup d’état in Cyprus ordered by the military junta in Greece, led to a revival of Cypriot nationalism.[8]
Cypriotism is strongly opposed by both Greek (and Greek Cypriot) nationalists and Turkish (and Turkish Cypriot) nationalists.[9][8]
Among Greek Cypriots identifying as Greeks above all else, the central political slogan has always been "Cyprus is Greek".[8] Political parties such asDIKO,EDEK and the Greek nationalist wing ofDISY, as well as theChurch of Cyprus, dismiss Cypriotism as a betrayal of Greek history and identity, and a sell-out to foreign interests who wish for Cyprus to submit to Turkish aggression.[10]
Among Turkish Cypriots, the idea of Cypriotism was vociferously rejected by the long-serving Turkish Cypriot leaderRauf Denktaş, a Turkish nationalist and partitionist[9] who believed that "in Cyprus there are Greeks and Turks", and that "the only true Cypriot is theCyprus donkey".[11][9] Accordingly,UBP, the political party founded by him, believes that Cypriot nationalism is a Greek ploy to subjugate and assimilate Turkish Cypriots. Other parties opposed to Cypriotism includeDP andYDP.
PresidentTassos Papadopoulos, generally seen as a Greek nationalist, can be said to have adopted a strategy of Cypriot nationalism (called "a strategy of osmosis" by him) by which he offered individual benefits to Turkish Cypriots (such asRepublic of Cyprus passports, free medical care, employment opportunities etc.) while at the same time maintaining a very hard line towards the (internationally unrecognised) breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration. Thus Papadopoulos hoped to cultivate an allegiance to the Government of Cyprus among some Turkish Cypriots, and exacerbate the already existing tensions between the Turkish Cypriots and theTurkish settlers in Northern Cyprus.[12][13]