Beyond ethno-nationalism: emerging trends in Cypriot politics after the Annan Plan

Abstract

Historically, conflict between the two communities in Cyprus has been characterised by the diverging demands of ethno-nationalists. The introduction of the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem has fostered new trends in Cypriot politics and a new alignment of the political forces on the island. This paper argues that the conventional ethno-nationalist division and the left-right divide are no longer sufficient in understanding the conflict in Cyprus. The new dividing and unifying elements in Cypriot politics can be best understood through analysing the views of political actors on such issues as sovereignty, territoriality, identity and power-sharing.