Turkish Cypriot nationalism, also known asCypriot Turkism, is a form ofethnic nationalism emphasising theTurkishness of theCypriot nation. It supports the independence of theTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and mostly desires that the TRNC stay independent from Turkey while opposing the idea of a united Cyprus with the Greek-dominatedRepublic of Cyprus. The objective oftaksim, that is, the partition of the island of Cyprus into Turkish and Greek portions, is widespread among Turkish Cypriot nationalists. Nevertheless, a considerable number of them wish for Turkey to annex the whole island of Cyprus.[1][2]
In 1950s and 1960s, Turkish Cypriot nationalism developed mainly in response toGreek andGreek Cypriot nationalism and their desire forenosis, union of the whole island with Greece.[3][4][5][6] Initially, Turkish Cypriots favoured the continuation of British rule.[7] However, they were alarmed by the Greek Cypriot calls forenosis, as they saw that the union ofCrete with Greece had led to the exodus ofCretan Turks, which was a precedent to be avoided,[8][9] and they took a pro-partition stance in response to the militant activity of theEOKA.[10] The slogan "EitherTaksim or Death" was frequently used in Turkish Cypriot and Turkish protests in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. Although after the Zurich and London Conferences, Turkey seemed both to accept the existence of the Cypriot state and to distance itself from its policy of favouring the partition of the island, the goal of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders remained that of creating an independent Turkish state in the northern part of the island.[11]
On 6 August 1964, units of theCypriot National Guard and Turkish Cypriot armed groups started toclash nearKokkina. On 8 August 1964, after waiting for nearly two days,Turkey intervened, once it had become clear that the Greek Cypriots would not withdraw from Kokkina, but simply commit more and more siege forces until the Turkish Cypriots ran out of supplies. The incident was an important turning point in both Turkish and Turkish Cypriot nationalism, and it caused a massive increase in nationalist opinions among the Turkish Cypriots. This increase was mostly in favour of idea of Turkish annexation of Cyprus.[12][13]
On 20 July 1974, Turkey launchedan invasion of the island following a Greek Junta sponsoredcoup d'état against President Makarios, aimed atuniting the island with Greece. The second Turkish offensive, codenamed "Attila 2", took place between 14 and 18 August 1974 and extended as far west as the Kokkina enclave.
The rise of Turkish nationalism among the Turkish Cypriots can be largely seen as a response to the Greek Cypriot national "awakening" and campaign for union with Greece.
The Turkish Cypriot nationalism developed mainly in reaction to the Greek Cypriot national desire for union with Greece.
Greek Cypriots engaged in a military campaign forenosis, union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots, in response, expressed their desire fortaksim, partition of the island.
In line with the nationalist rhetoric that "Cyprus is Turkish", Menderes predicated his declaration upon the geographic proximity between Cyprus and Anatolia, thereby defining "Cyprus as an extension of Anatolia". It was striking that Menderes rejected partitioning the island into two ethnic states, a position that would define Turkey's foreign policy regarding Cyprus after 1957
The educational and political mobilisation between 1948-1958, aiming at raising Turkish national consciousness, resulted in the involving Turkey as motherland in the Cyprus Question. From then on, Turkey, would work hand in hand with the Turkish Cypriot leadership and the British government to oppose the Greek Cypriot demand forenosis and realise the partition of Cyprus, which meanwhile became the national policy.