From ‘National Cause’ to ‘National Burden’: Turkish Cypriots within Turkey’s Kinship and Diaspora Politics and Perceptions

The document analyzes the historical shift in Turkey's relationship with Cyprus, moving from a period of 'national excitement' and securitization to a more paternalistic and neoliberal approach under the AKP government. It details how Turkish Cypriots, once seen as 'blood brothers', are increasingly perceived by some in Turkey as 'ungrateful' or 'degenerate' due to secularism and a perceived lack of religious identity. The authors also examine the role of Turkish settlers in north Cyprus, who have become targets of AKP diaspora politics, creating new political polarizations on the island.

• From the mid-1950s until the early 2000s, Cyprus was framed as a 'national cause' (millidava) in Turkey, creating a 'national stance' (milli duruş) that made the issue indisputable and equated questioning it with treason.
• The 'securitization' of the Cyprus problem allowed the Turkish military-bureaucratic establishment to maintain control over foreign policy by framing the issue as an existential threat, thereby silencing domestic opposition and depoliticizing the subject.
• Under the AKP government, Turkey shifted toward a 'win-win' strategy and a 'one step ahead' policy to improve its international image and EU prospects, moving away from the rigid 'red lines' previously held by Rauf Denktaş.
• The relationship between Turkey and north Cyprus evolved into a 'paternal protectorate', where Turkey's support is often experienced as paternalistic interference, leading Turkish Cypriots to resent the lack of recognized autonomy.
• Tensions escalated in 2011 when Prime Minister Erdoğan responded to Turkish Cypriot protests against austerity measures by describing them as 'being fed' (besleniyorlar) by Turkey, a term interpreted by Cypriots as treating them like servants.
• Religious conservatives in Turkey increasingly perceive Turkish Cypriots as 'degenerate' or 'without religion' due to their secularism, leading to AKP efforts to 'discipline' them through the construction of mosques and religious schools.

APA

Hatay, M., & Bryant, R. (2019). From ‘National Cause’ to ‘National Burden’: Turkish Cypriots within Turkey’s Kinship and Diaspora Politics and Perceptions. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%206%20From%20%E2%80%98National%20Cause%E2%80%99%20to%20%E2%80%98National%20Burden%E2%80%99%20Turkish%20Cypriots%20within%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Kinship%20and%20Diaspora%20Politics%20and%20Perceptions%20by%20Mete%20Hatay%20and%20Rebecca%20Bryant.pdf

Chicago

Hatay, Mete, and Rebecca Bryant. From ‘National Cause’ to ‘National Burden’: Turkish Cypriots within Turkey’s Kinship and Diaspora Politics and Perceptions. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2019. https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%206%20From%20%E2%80%98National%20Cause%E2%80%99%20to%20%E2%80%98National%20Burden%E2%80%99%20Turkish%20Cypriots%20within%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Kinship%20and%20Diaspora%20Politics%20and%20Perceptions%20by%20Mete%20Hatay%20and%20Rebecca%20Bryant.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hatay |first1=Mete |last2=Bryant |first2=Rebecca |title=From ‘National Cause’ to ‘National Burden’: Turkish Cypriots within Turkey’s Kinship and Diaspora Politics and Perceptions |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2019 |url=https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%206%20From%20%E2%80%98National%20Cause%E2%80%99%20to%20%E2%80%98National%20Burden%E2%80%99%20Turkish%20Cypriots%20within%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Kinship%20and%20Diaspora%20Politics%20and%20Perceptions%20by%20Mete%20Hatay%20and%20Rebecca%20Bryant.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hatay2019from, author = {Hatay, Mete and Bryant, Rebecca}, title = {{From ‘National Cause’ to ‘National Burden’: Turkish Cypriots within Turkey’s Kinship and Diaspora Politics and Perceptions}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2019}, url = {https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%206%20From%20%E2%80%98National%20Cause%E2%80%99%20to%20%E2%80%98National%20Burden%E2%80%99%20Turkish%20Cypriots%20within%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Kinship%20and%20Diaspora%20Politics%20and%20Perceptions%20by%20Mete%20Hatay%20and%20Rebecca%20Bryant.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }