The Role of Foreign Powers in Structuring Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflict in Cyprus

Abstract

Particularly in recent years theories of ethnicity and nationalism have abounded. However, little attention has been paid to one critical factor in the construction and politicization of ethnicity—the role of already existing states. In the modern era, with the demise of Empires and the rise of nationstates, sovereignty is considered legitimate when it is exercised over people who possess a shared national identity. Already established states, particularly those whose legitimacy is grounded on ethnic, rather than civic nationalism, on the one hand embark on various forms of “ethnic cleansing” within their territory, while concurrently pursuing irredentism as a way of incorporating within their borders those people and territory which the state designates as part of its nation. Before proceeding to an analysis of the role of foreign powers, it is imperative that the meaning ascribed to terms used in this study be specified.