From Salvation to Struggle

The authors analyze the annual commemoration of the battle of Erenköy (Kokkina) in Cyprus, arguing that it has evolved from a state-led 'national myth' of salvation by the Turkish military into a 'vernacular history' or 'epic' of local struggle. Through ethnographic observation and interviews, the paper demonstrates how participants—including former fighters, villagers, and their descendants—repurpose official narratives to create an 'affect of agency' that is future-oriented rather than purely focused on past victimization or triumph. This shift is evidenced by the rising attendance at the Erenköy pilgrimage and a declining interest in purely militaristic state celebrations, reflecting a broader change in Turkish Cypriot identity and political aspirations.

• The commemoration of the battle of Erenköy has transitioned from a triumphalist focus on monuments to a practice of mourning at the graves of the fallen.
• The authors argue that the 'Erenköy epic' allows for a more complex understanding of communal experience than 'national myths,' as it is based on lived history that can be repurposed for the present and future.
• For decades, the official Turkish Cypriot narrative framed the events at Erenköy as a 'salvation' by the Turkish military, effectively rendering Turkish Cypriots as passive victims or extras in their own history.
• Since the early 2000s, a 'countercurrent' of remembrance has emerged, emphasizing the solidarity and struggle of Turkish Cypriot fighters and villagers over the role of the Turkish military.
• The narrative of the 'epic' varies by group: university students emphasize 'pure' sacrifice, while villagers highlight the extraordinary acts of ordinary people defending their families and their refusal to surrender the village after 1974.
• Attendance at the Erenköy pilgrimage has increased significantly following the opening of land access in 2009, growing from 150 people in 2003 to 2,100 in 2014.
• There is a broader trend among Turkish Cypriots of declining interest in militaristic national holidays associated with Turkey, such as the July 20 anniversary, in favor of commemorations that emphasize local struggle.
• The repurposing of these rituals creates an 'affect of agency'—a disposition of resolve and endurance—that participants link to future political goals, such as achieving political equality in a negotiated settlement.

APA

BRYANT, R., & HATAY, M. (n.d.). From Salvation to Struggle. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/974f07fb-ba6b-4e61-853f-de567872e256/From Salvation to Struggle On Commomeration Affect and Agency in Cyprus.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

BRYANT, REBECCA, and METE HATAY. From Salvation to Struggle. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/974f07fb-ba6b-4e61-853f-de567872e256/From Salvation to Struggle On Commomeration Affect and Agency in Cyprus.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BRYANT |first1=REBECCA |last2=HATAY |first2=METE |title=From Salvation to Struggle |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/974f07fb-ba6b-4e61-853f-de567872e256/From Salvation to Struggle On Commomeration Affect and Agency in Cyprus.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bryantndfrom, author = {BRYANT, REBECCA and HATAY, METE}, title = {{From Salvation to Struggle}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/974f07fb-ba6b-4e61-853f-de567872e256/From Salvation to Struggle On Commomeration Affect and Agency in Cyprus.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }