Cooperation versus discord in the cypriot conflict: the role of Turkey

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1819819 (Table of Contents)

Cyprus Conflict has been persisting for many decades. Even though, the United Nations has made several attempts to solve the conflict, no solution has been reached. With the change of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus president and the change of the Republic of Cyprus president, hope started to rise that the vicious cycle of the conflict could be altered. Also, recently there has been a new water pipeline project between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Besides, there has also been recent hydrocarbon discoveries in the Levant basin, which is in the Eastern Mediterranean and covers the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. In such a nexus, by using the theoretical framework of structure/agency, the aim of the thesis is to research and analyze whether and in what ways resources (water and natural gas) can change the course of the Cypriot conflict and what is Turkey’s role in this nexus. After the change of the presidents, resource allocation for water and natural gas provides an incentive for both actors to negotiate and resolve their conflict, but these are not enough to solve the issues that come from the past and create a hurdle in the mediation process today.