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