Cyprus Policy Research Articles

Recontextualising Stenhouse: Instantiations of the ‘teacher as researcher’ metaphor in Greece and Cyprus

AbstractThis paper explores the transfer, translation and recontextualisation of Laurence Stenhouse's work, as encapsulated in the ‘teacher as researcher’ metaphor, to the Greek language and in the fields of research and policy in Greece and Cyprus. We first briefly frame action research work as emerging through and within a specific space‐time (and in conversation with others in North America, Australia and Europe). We then trace its translation from English to Greek in specific key publications in books and articles (including his 1975 seminal work An introduction to curriculum research and development), which have since been central to curriculum studies as an academic field in both countries. We then construct four vignettes as cases of different uses of the metaphor in different fields. The first two refer to the institutional context of a new type of school called ‘second chance schools’ and a state policy for the professional development of teachers in Greece. The other two refer to an initial teacher education university programme and to the most recent school curriculum change in the Republic of Cyprus. We conclude by discussing certain patterns of constriction across the four vignettes in the recontextualisation of the ‘teacher as researcher’ to particular aspects of the metaphor as it morphed in two rather centralised contexts with a strong historical presence of a formal, state‐mandated curriculum and of teachers as public servants. Despite these patterns of constriction, we also note how other aspects of the metaphor provided conditions for some transformation.

English Language Policy in Cyprus under the British Empire Period and it is Impact on Current Sustainable Education Policies

In this research, the foreign language education policy of Cyprus, which was under British rule between 1878 and 1960, with a special reference to the English Language and its reflection on the present day were examined. The study on the period in question is based on a qualitative analysis of British archival documents and domestic sources. As the history of Cyprus, it is still possible to see especially traces of the education policy formulated by the British who ruled the island in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the early years, relatively minor attempts at colonialism were made compared to other British colonies, as the British gave the colonies the autonomy to govern their own languages and educational systems. The influence of the colonial power’s language, particularly in the Cypriot education system, started to be noticed after the 1930s when the political agenda changed and the British attitude changed. As a result, during the colonial period of the United Kingdom in Cyprus, the British tried to bring the education of the society, which was obtained as a result of education, to a common point by gathering it in a central structure.

Cyprus policy of Turkey during the reign of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1923–1938)

Cyprus policy of Turkey during the reign of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1923–1938)

From Non-Intervention to Mediation: The Transformation of the US Cyprus Policy (1960–1967)

ABSTRACT This article aims to reveal the transformation of the US Cyprus policy between 1960 and 1967. In the early 1960s, the US adopted a policy of non-intervention in the Cyprus dispute. However, the developments on the Island in 1964 made it impossible for the US to refrain from the dispute after a point. For this reason, the US tried to manage the Cyprus dispute so that it would not harm the harmony and cohesion of the NATO Alliance. During this period, the US occasionally confronted Turkey and Greece. However, despite all the tensions, the US administration was careful not to break relations with its allies completely. On the other hand, Turkey and Greece considered themselves indispensable to the US during this period. Each ally always expected the support of the US against the other. However, most of the time, both allies were dissatisfied with the attitude of the US at the same time.

Between political survival and regional power: the justice and development party and Cyprus, 2002–2017

ABSTRACT Cyprus has featured prominently on Turkey’s foreign policy agenda in recent years. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has weaved this long-standing issue into a broader narrative of ‘geographical imagination’. Cyprus policy has thus reflected the AKP’s socio-political vision of a ‘Yeni Türkiye’ (New Turkey), first articulated nearly a decade ago, in which well-entrenched narratives about national identity and the Cyprus conflict are central. Against this backdrop, Cyprus has been leveraged in the twin interests of AKP survival (boosting incumbency through nationalist appeals) and Turkey’s regional power aspirations. The present article offers a timely survey of Turkey’s Cyprus policy over a 15-year period from 2002 (when the AKP rose to power) until the failure of the negotiation talks on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, Switzerland in July 2017. In so doing, the article charts the important continuities as well as the key markers of transition in Ankara’s policy towards Cyprus under the AKP.

Sustainability education research and policy in Cyprus: an investigation into their roles and relationships

This paper is motivated by the idea that the study of the interplay of research and policy related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in specific national contexts can contribute to global conversations about the relationships between education research and policy-making. It is written by two individuals who have been involved in various roles within the development of ESD research and policy in Cyprus. The study involved thematic analysis of all ESD policy and research documents in Cyprus from 1998 and 2017, in order to examine interactions between research and policy. Findings suggest that ESD research and policy in Cyprus empower each other, with researchers participating to on-going policy development and policy processes highlighting new directions for research. Based on these findings, we discuss the effectiveness of a participatory model for ESD research and policy processes, and the importance of situations where education policy interrupts established research traditions. Further, we highlight the danger of research being suppressed under the power of politics. We conclude that the study of the development of ESD research and policy in specific national contexts, especially beyond Western Europe and North America, can reveal the varied possibilities in the interplay of policy and research, and therefore can inform understandings of the relationships between them.

From indifference to independence: Turkey’s shifting Cyprus policy in the 1950s

This article aims to offer a valid answer to the question why Turkey’s official stance on the Cyprus problem experienced frequent shifts - from indifference (1950) into supporting colonial rule (1954) then into Taksim, or partition (1956) and, finally, into independence (1959). Drawing upon the main assumptions of neoclassical realism, it argues that the existing systemic explanations in the scholarly literature that focus on Cold War rivalry are insufficient to grasp why there were such remarkable shifts in Turkey’s Cyprus policy in the 1950s. Instead, the article will focus on the domestic dynamics to make better sense of these policy changes. Accordingly, it will first discuss the main assumptions of neoclassical realism as a sound theoretical framework. Second, it will scrutinise in detail how Turkey experienced such shifts in its Cyprus policy throughout the 1950s. Third, the article will discuss the extant literature that overwhelmingly concentrates on systemic explanations for Turkey’s volte-face in Cyprus. In response, the article will offer alternative explanations by focusing on Turkey’s depleting resource extraction capacity and the political leadership of Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, in order to fully understand the underlying reasons behind Turkey’s shifting Cyprus policy.

Die Kirche von Zypern im sogenannten monenergetisch-monotheletischen Streit des 7. Jh.s

Abstract This essay examines the main sources on the attitude of the Church of Cyprus in the so-called monoenergetic-monotheletic dispute. It is shown that the Church of Cyprus was a loyal and active partner in Constantinople’s policy of reconciliation with the Antichalcedonian churches of the East. Cyprus was also, especially under Archbishop Arkadios (624/25-641/2), a place of exile for opponents of this reconciliation, and in 636 also the venue of an important synod which was attended by legates of almost the whole church. The resulting Ekthesis was approved also in Rome and Jerusalem. Even Maximos did not succeed, after 636, to influence the position of Arkadios through the Cypriot priest monk Marinos. His six letters to Marinos offer no evidence for a dyenergetic or dyotheletic position of the Church of Cyprus. A letter from 643, written by the successor of Arkadios, Sergios (642-655), clearly shows that there was until then no protest against the Constantinopolitan church policy in Cyprus in this time. This letter, which demonstrates the firm dyenergetic and dyotheletic position of the whole Church of Cyprus, was presented at the Lateran Synod of 649, but forged or completely rewritten for this Synod. Even after 643, there is no evidence for public dissent in the Church of Cyprus, nor should it actually be expected.

Capturing the diversity of Mediterranean farming systems prior to their sustainability assessment: The case of Cyprus

Prior to any sustainability assessment and/or any effort to understand or develop the agricultural sector, the acknowledgment of the diversity of farming systems (FSs) is crucial. Typologies are often used for this purpose. The goals of this study were, for the first time, to identify and characterize the divergent FSs that exist in southeastern Cyprus, and analyse the main drivers of variability among FSs. Beyond this empirical exploration, this study explores the suitability of typology delineation for understanding the heterogeneity of FSs prior to their sustainability assessment and for the potential of adoption of sustainable intensification technologies. The multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis were employed on data from a representative sample of 324 farms in the study area. Results proposed six FSs, differentiated by land use, livestock, production pattern, farm, household, labour and economic variables. FS1-FS4 were crop-oriented and FS5-FS6 were livestock-oriented cultivating cereals and fodder crops for on-farm consumption. Only FS1 was profitable without subsidies, which were negatively associated with economic results. This casts doubt on the effectiveness of subsidies in providing the basis for a more profitable agricultural sector. FS3-FS5 households sought off/no-farm income mainly for their survival (i.e. complementary source of income), but not to cross-subsidize the farm. Small crop-oriented farms (FS4) and medium-sized livestock-oriented farms (FS5) had several weaknesses, such as elderly, low-educated managers and low profitability; thus, their viability should be the priority of decision makers. It was also observed a weak complementarity between the main system components (crop, livestock, off/non-farm income), which might negatively affect sustainable intensification. The importance of group membership for farm sustainability was also highlighted. The results of this study can be used for a more focused agricultural policy, tailored to the different constraints and opportunities of FSs, but also to inform public decision makers who are responsible to design and implement agricultural policy in Cyprus, or in other European Mediterranean regions with similar FSs and agro-ecological conditions.

КІПРСЬКЕ ПИТАННЯ В ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИХ ІНТЕГРАЦІЙНИХ ПРОЦЕСАХ (1960-2004 РР.)

The article is devoted to the Cyprus issue in the context of the European integration processes from the Republic’s independence till the accession of Cyprus to the European Union in 2004. Forms and stages of Cyprus` integration policy were revealed in the article. The European integration was the main idea of the Cyprus history in the late 20th century and at the early 21th century. Therefore, the mentioned aspect became the subject of this research. Two lead strategies of the Cyprus policy towards European Communities were identified. The first one was the association within the framework of the customs union as a lead Cyprus policy in 1970-1980th. The second strategy was based on the principles of full membership in the European Union. The latter was occurring in the post Cold war era and had been succeeded in 2004. The home and foreign problems, formed so called Cyprus question, were characterized in the paper. Ethnic conflict’s consequences, artificial territorial division, unfinished peacekeeping operation were obstructing the European goal of the Cyprus Republic. European Commission considered Cyprus to be adjusted to the European high standards. Due to Greek Cypriot’s hard work for the juridical implementations and social and economic adaptations Cyprus was accepted to the EU. In the 1990s the European Union proposed its own way to maintain the Cyprus problem by proceeding intercommunion negotiations and UN Resolutions. This EU`s activity was failed in many points that was reflected in the paper. The British, Greek and Turkish opinion about the Cyprus integration was analyzed. The politic reaction of Greece and Turkey was also in the focus of view. An attention was paid to the Turkish community of Cyprus as a separated problem. The change of Turks Cypriots` status during integration policy of Cyprus was a prominent feature in attempting to solve Cyprus dispute. The Cyprus question is affecting the Turkish European policy badly. Therefore, this problem remains actual for the European history.

THE CYPRUS UPRISING OF 1931 IN THE GREAT BRITAIN’S IMPERIAL POLICY

The paper is devoted to the Cyprus uprising of 1931. The comprehensive study of the rebellion was conducted in the article. The disintegrating processes of the British Empire, economical and religious factors, domestic and external policy were analyzed as the main reasons of the uprising. The paper focuses on the similar features of the Greece and Turkish policy towards the Cyprus problem at that period. An attention was paid to the external influence on the home policy in Cyprus. The British colonial administration and its policy were in the focus of view in the paper. The main idea of the article is the system connection between the Cyprus uprising of 1931 and imperial and regional processes before and after the mentioned events.The October rebellion, the Greek Cypriots raised in 1931, was an integrate problem of the British Empire from the one hand and the local problem of Greek and Turkish nationalism from another. The matter requires to take into account both cases. The Cyprus uprising of 1931 took place against a background of the anti-colonial trends in Ireland, India and Canada at that period. This fact allows us to conclude that the Cyprus events have general imperial features.Objective economic reasons also underlay the rebellion in Cyprus. Great Depression of 1929-1933 decreased deeply living standard on the island by reducing consumption of Cyprus export goods and travel service all over Europe. The Greek and Turkish home policy caused Cyprus negative processes as well. That’s why the beginnings of the Cyprus uprising of 1931 was accompanied by Orthodox religious and Greek nationalistic slogans.The political conflict in Cyprus turned into the riot’s preconditions. During the first stage of the riot British colonial authorities showed their inability to settle the problem in time. Incoherence of the army and police activity led the Governor’s residence to be burned down. That accident was called the most shameful humiliation British Empire ever obtained at the interwar period. Riot’s scales demonstrated the general Greek-community orientation. The Turkish-Cypriot’s reaction and their role in the uprising’s suppression provided a basis to the future inter-communal conflict.The events of the Cyprus uprising of 1931 were an integral part of the imperial and regional processes. The main causes of the rebellion demonstrated its general empire character. Political processes in Greece and Turkey influenced the Cyprus problem. That was reflected at slogans and ideas of the rebels. This accident, in addition, worsened Greek-Turkish relations. Mentioned facts argued that the Cyprus uprising of 1931 intensified anti-colonial attitudes and interethnic tensions between Greeks and Turks on the island for decades ahead.

Cyprus Economy in Wonderland

Economic policy in Cyprus completely ignores the fact the problem to overcome is the enormous, and almost unprecedented, private debt burdening the economy. The Government seems to be complacent in serving the narrowly defined needs of the few remaining systemic banks in Cyprus. It presents the problem of the non-performing loans as being the only remaining problem of the economy rather than a mere symptom of the real problem which is private debt. It is therefore leading the economy down a path which entails new legislative measures which facilitate and enable the banks to take the existing non-performing loans off their books, mostly by selling them to foreign funds. The selling of the loans to funds at huge discounts using the provisions made by the banks will on the one hand enable the banks to register a fictitious accounting profit (and thereby ease their recapitalisation needs) but it will make the private situation of the firms and households who are heavily indebted a lot worse. Such a policy will almost inevitably take the country into a balance sheet recession.

Openness to help-seeking for mental illness among Greek-Cypriots.

The aim of this study was to test a model of people's willingness to seek help for mental illness whether currently diagnosed or not. A cross-sectional design was used to test this model in a non-clinical convenience sample of Greek-Cypriots. Participants were 196 Greek-Cypriots living in Cyprus (age M = 34.50 years, SD = 14.16). They provided demographic data on their age, gender, SES and whether diagnosed or not with a mental illness, from whom they have/would seek help for a mental illness, and their willingness to seek help. They completed the Inventory of Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Support, and the Practical Barriers in Seeking Mental Health Services Scales, translated into Greek for this study. Approximately 24% of the sample reported being diagnosed with a mental illness within the past 12 months, and around a third of these people were taking prescribed medication. Willingness to seek help across all participants was predicted negatively by stigma and positively by openness to help. The findings of the current study extend our previous limited understanding of the factors affecting people's willingness to seek help or their intentions towards the use of mental health services among Greek-Cypriots. Future research should consider whether there are any differences in help-seeking behaviours and motivations across people experiencing different disorders. Despite this limitation in the current data, these results can, in general terms, be used to inform policy in Cyprus for mental health promotions and interventions especially with respect to fostering an open attitude towards mental illness.

The Comparison of Elementary Teacher Training Policies in the United Kingdom and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The purpose of this study is to compare the training policies of elementary teachers applied in the Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus today and the training polices applied in the United Kingdom who was the colonial of Northern Cyprus for many years. For this reason, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s elementary teacher training institutions, programs, teacher candidate selection and training period were examined. In addition, in the study from the colonial years (1878-1960) to the present day, leaving the legacy of policies applied in many areas of elementary teacher training in the United Kingdom were investigated. Elementary teacher training practices in the United Kingdom and North Cyprus were compared and evaluated. Research was carried out with the document scanning method. As a result of the research, similarities and differences between the two countries have been identified, in the light of this information it has demonstrated to the extent that the teacher education policy in Northern Cyprus remains under the influence of United Kingdom teaching policies. Keywords: Elementary Teacher Education Training; Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; United Kingdom.

From Clusters to Smart Specialization: Tourism in Institution-Sensitive Regional Development Policies

In the European Union and its neighborhood, regional development has increasingly come to focus on agglomerations during the last three decades. Notably, during the 1990s and early 2000s, clustering was the major policy focus in regional development. Currently, the concept of smart specialization is applied all over the European Union and is attracting interest in the EU’s neighborhood. The tourism sector particularly tends to agglomerate regionally and even locally. While there is a large body of literature describing tourism clusters and while tourism features as a priority sector in many regional development strategies such as smart specialization strategies, there is a research gap on policy approaches applying agglomeration-oriented policy concepts to tourism destinations in an institution-sensitive way. This article argues that both cluster policy and smart specialization can be of considerable value for institution-sensitive tourism development, either when adapted to the specificities of the tourism sector or when integrating tourism development into wider, cross-sectoral strategies of regional development. Such a policy can be a valuable tool for local and regional development, provided that policies are designed in an institution-sensitive manner and respond to the particular institutional context prevailing in a tourist destination. The article illustrates some preliminary thoughts for institution-sensitive tourism development through cluster policy and smart specialization in Cyprus, Israel, and Tunisia.

Configuring residential PV net-metering policies – A focus on the Mediterranean region

Several parts of the Mediterranean basin are experiencing grid parity nowadays, which is a sign that Photovoltaic (PV) technology has become competitive to conventional energy sources and may continue to develop without support. The net-metering policy takes advantage of the grid parity situation and is considered a step away from fading Feed-in Tariff schemes. Nevertheless, several policy variations make the decision about a specific net-metering scheme a complicated task. Therefore, the aim of this paper that deals with residential PV systems is two-fold. The first aim is to present a methodology that identifies the appropriate general net-metering scheme given the particularities and local conditions. The second goal is to examine the parity situation and compose net-metering policy recommendations in 6 Mediterranean countries. The current net-metering policy in Cyprus, which sets a grid charge on PV prosumers, is used as a case study under 3 scenarios. The first simulates the current policy in Cyprus, the second simulates self-consumption and different partial-netting schemes, and the third a partial-netting scheme with variable netted network charges. The results reveal that partial-netting policies with shorter timeframes of rolling credits and higher grid charges offer advantages that can be utilized for effective net-metering policies.

Drafting a realistic tourism policy: the airlines’ strategic influence

PurposeIn tourism literature, policy is synonymous with the involvement of the government in terms of planning, developing and organising the destination. In the case of the airline industry, policy is verified by a supranational body, the European Union, which sets outs guidelines for all member states. This paper aims to examine how the tourism policy and planning in Cyprus is formulated in an attempt to understand the strategic response of the airlines in the way they fulfil the aims of the tourism strategy.Design/methodology/approachThe primary data are based on the results of 25 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with powerful and elite tourism and airline decision makers in Cyprus.FindingsThe results of the research suggest that the tourism policy should take into more consideration and develop strategic synergies and have tighter links with airlines companies in terms of planning and policy formation. This will enable the destination and the government to provide more realistic targets in tourism policies especially in islands. The airline network can both increase the number of arrival and diversify the demand all year round and offer more economic opportunities.Originality/valueThe study addresses two important aspects in terms of tourism development. The first is the policy initiative and the second is the role of the airlines’ for the purpose of tourism. Interrelation between tourism policies and airline developments are rather neglected in the tourism literature. Thus, this study highlights the point that in destination planning especially on islands, the airline decision-makers should participate in the policy making process and set more realistic targets. Additionally, airlines play an important role for destinations reaching numerical targets.

Assessment of Solar Water Heating In Cyprus: Utility, Development and Policy

The main objective of this study is to assess solar water heaters’ utility, development and policy in Cyprus. The study reviews the relevance of solar water heaters in Cyprus from users’ perspective. Cyprus has the highest per capital solar water heater system ratio in the world with no solar water heating systems policy in place currently. Data were collected from some local manufacturer/sellers of the system and residents of one thousand (1,000) housing units that utilize solar water heating systems interviewed on the system’s usefulness and viability in the long and short term. SPSS is deployed in analyzing the data collected and a policy that will further enhance the development of solar water heaters is proposed. In Cyprus, solar water heater are of the thermo-syphon type and consist of two flat-plate solar collectors having an absorber area between 160 X 80 cm for locally manufactured products and 190 x 90 cm for imported ones. It is estimated that the number of systems installed in Cyprus exceeds 80,000 units for residential buildings. From the results, eight out of every ten houses has solar water heaters installed and about 50% of houses without solar water heating systems have plans of installing the system soon. Most of the hot water produced by the system are used for bathing and it is noteworthy to mention that over 80% of the respondents interviewed agrees that the system is worth investing in. A comprehensive report of all the findings from this study is properly presented in the paper.

The Cyprus Conflict: Turkey’s Strategic Dilemma

This article concerns Turkey’s Cyprus policy in the fast transforming geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean. It argues that dramatic changes in the Eastern Mediterranean with the Arab Spring and the discovery of natural gas reserves in the region paved way for a hard power strategy on Cyprus. Both have shaken the traditional alliance structures and created an unprecedented level of economic opportunities, leading Turkey to reformulate its Cyprus policy. Turkey’s disappointment regarding EU accession prepared the ground for this radical shift in Turkey’s policy.

Intercultural education in situ

Purpose The overarching purpose of this paper is to explore the transformation of intercultural education in Cyprus in the context of European integration. More specifically, it indicates the ways in which intercultural policy has been formed by complex and often counteractive influences. The analysis draws upon policy documents collected from the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) and interviews carried out with Cypriot policy-makers. Europe has come to play an important role in the development of Cypriot intercultural policy by becoming a mechanism of pressure for educational change. Through monitoring processes, Europe has indicated problems deriving from the culturally pluralistic character of the Cypriot society that should be addressed by national policies. In this context, Cyprus has initiated an educational reform, including a reform of the national curriculum towards a more intercultural orientation. Nonetheless, the findings of this research assert that there is a gap between policy rhetoric and practice. Design/methodology/approach This study reports on an analysis of the policy dynamics influencing intercultural education in the Greek–Cypriot context. The authors aim to examine the context and content of educational policies and directives which have been initiated and/or developed at the Greek–Cypriot level. To this end, the authors drew upon policy documentary and data derived from interviews conducted with Greek–Cypriot policy-makers and education officers. Findings It appears that intercultural education became an important part of the state’s rhetoric. Cyprus has initiated an educational reform, including a reform of the national curriculum towards a more intercultural orientation. Therefore, since 2008, the state and particularly the MEC have replaced the previously used term of multicultural education with the rhetoric of intercultural education and inclusion as the preferable educational responses to immigration. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study suggest that the development of intercultural education requires the re-conceptualisation and re-structuring of the Cypriot educational system and schooling. The state should adopt a balanced governance model between school autonomy and centralised management. Practical implications This paper can help schools and teachers to improve their intercultural education approach. Social implications The findings could be helpful for improving the intercultural education policy in Cyprus. Originality/value These research finding are the first that deal with intercultural education policy in Cyprus.