CROSS-BORDER INTERACTIONS IN A FROZEN CONFLICT CONTEXT /
Cileker, Arda
CROSS-BORDER INTERACTIONS IN A FROZEN CONFLICT CONTEXT / THE EXPERIENCES OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS CROSSING TO THE SOUTH ARDA CILEKER; SUPERVISOR: ASSOC. PROF. DR. SERTAC SONAN - 61 sheets; 31 cm. Includes CD
Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research International Relations Department
Includes bibliography (sheets 52-61)
ABSTRACT
The Cyprus conflict is one of the frozen conflicts that has been going on for almost 50
years. The division, which started with intercommunal clashes in the late 1950s, was
cemented with the 1974 war. With the opening of the crossing points by the Turkish
Cypriot authorities in 2003, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities were
able to cross to the other part of the island for the first time in 29 years. This thesis is about
the economic and other interactions of the Turkish Cypriots in the south using the crossing
points in Nicosia. My main research question is: What are the reasons for the Turkish
Cypriots to cross to the south in Nicosia, which is the last divided capital and a symbol of
frozen conflicts? My argument is that Turkish Cypriots are going to the south either to
take advantage of cheaper goods and services or to meet their essential needs (identity
card/passport renewal). In this thesis, I analyze how crossing points affect urban
geopolitics and how these interactions affect the conflict between the two sides. Due to
the deep depreciation of the Turkish Lira, the frequency of crossing to the south among
Turkish Cypriots has decreased. Still, Turkish Cypriots prefer crossing to the south.
Because, despite the decreasing purchasing power of Turkish Cypriots, some goods and
services in the south are still cheaper than in the north. In addition, although economic
activities increase social contact by creating interdependence, they are also the subject of
complaints among Turkish and Greek Cypriot tradespeople. The thesis is based on a
survey that I conducted with 400 Turkish Cypriots passing through Metehan and Lokmacı
crossing points in August 2022. Nicosia, the last divided capital of the Europe, presents a
unique case to study the interactions between the two communities Turkish Cypriots in
southern part of Cyprus.
Nepotism--Dissertations, Academic
Geopolitics--Dissertations, Academic
CROSS-BORDER INTERACTIONS IN A FROZEN CONFLICT CONTEXT / THE EXPERIENCES OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS CROSSING TO THE SOUTH ARDA CILEKER; SUPERVISOR: ASSOC. PROF. DR. SERTAC SONAN - 61 sheets; 31 cm. Includes CD
Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research International Relations Department
Includes bibliography (sheets 52-61)
ABSTRACT
The Cyprus conflict is one of the frozen conflicts that has been going on for almost 50
years. The division, which started with intercommunal clashes in the late 1950s, was
cemented with the 1974 war. With the opening of the crossing points by the Turkish
Cypriot authorities in 2003, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities were
able to cross to the other part of the island for the first time in 29 years. This thesis is about
the economic and other interactions of the Turkish Cypriots in the south using the crossing
points in Nicosia. My main research question is: What are the reasons for the Turkish
Cypriots to cross to the south in Nicosia, which is the last divided capital and a symbol of
frozen conflicts? My argument is that Turkish Cypriots are going to the south either to
take advantage of cheaper goods and services or to meet their essential needs (identity
card/passport renewal). In this thesis, I analyze how crossing points affect urban
geopolitics and how these interactions affect the conflict between the two sides. Due to
the deep depreciation of the Turkish Lira, the frequency of crossing to the south among
Turkish Cypriots has decreased. Still, Turkish Cypriots prefer crossing to the south.
Because, despite the decreasing purchasing power of Turkish Cypriots, some goods and
services in the south are still cheaper than in the north. In addition, although economic
activities increase social contact by creating interdependence, they are also the subject of
complaints among Turkish and Greek Cypriot tradespeople. The thesis is based on a
survey that I conducted with 400 Turkish Cypriots passing through Metehan and Lokmacı
crossing points in August 2022. Nicosia, the last divided capital of the Europe, presents a
unique case to study the interactions between the two communities Turkish Cypriots in
southern part of Cyprus.
Nepotism--Dissertations, Academic
Geopolitics--Dissertations, Academic