CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Moralioglu, Fuat Can |
|---|---|
| Title | The Viability of Consociational Democracy in Resolving the Cyprus Conflict: A Focus on Turkish Cypriot Perspectives |
| Summary | How to govern ethnically divided societies? This thesis investigates the viability of consociational democracy as a framework for resolving the Cyprus conflict, focusing on Turkish Cypriot perspectives. By exploring theoretical foundations, drawing comparative insights from similar cases such as Lebanon, and examining the historical context of Cyprus—including the failures of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus and the 2004 Annan Plan Referanda—I am to provide a comprehensive backdrop. My empirical work of 5 in-depth interviews with Turkish Cypriots and triangulated with public opinion surveys, reveals a strong preference for power-sharing arrangements rooted in recognizing the limitations of majoritarian democracy in ethnically divided societies. These findings align with the existing literature suggesting that minority inclusion fosters stable democracies. The Cyprus case demonstrates that without robust institutions guaranteeing minority rights and political equality, tensions and dysfunction increase, as evidenced by past failures. The political and economic challenges since the partition in 1974 further fuel dissatisfaction among Turkish Cypriots, which highlights the need for a more inclusive governance model for the island. Therefore, I suggest that policymakers must prioritize political equality and community cohabitation through power-sharing in Cyprus. Future research should explore the practical implementation of consociational models and the role of external actors in facilitating peace, which will provide essential support for meaningful negotiations and the successful implementation of power-sharing mechanisms in Cypriot political life. |
| Supervisor | Bochsler, Daniel |
| Department | Nationalism Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/moralioglu_fuat.pdf |
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