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One of the many dimensions of the global tussle surrounding the Covid‐19 pandemic has been the rise of right‐wing radicalization. In this article, we investigate whether the pandemic offered an opportunity for the Greek Cypriot far‐right party, ELAM, to increase its visibility as an opposition force and in what ways. We also explore the transformations in populist rhetoric and practices in the Republic of Cyprus, seeking to identify patterns of persistence and evolution, particularly in how they handle scientific matters in their political stances. Similarly, we delve into the impact of far‐right populist politics on the political dynamics in Cyprus. Our findings indicate that pandemic politics were not the exclusive or primary factor in the normalization of the far right but rather served as an accelerator of preexisting trends. The party's handling of the pandemic and scientific principles signifies the diversity within the far‐right phenomenon rather than pointing to a universal pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the normative position that violent conflict is not desirable, I Iconoclastic Controversies i advocates the necessity of transforming antagonistic conflicts into agonistic conflicts through the redefinition of the enemy into an adversary. Acknowledging that commemoration sites and activities are aligned with various discourses, Carpentier focuses on one particular discourse, that of antagonistic nationalism. The eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, divided by a 220-km long de facto border, called the Green Line, has often captured the international headlines with the bi-communal confrontations and military operations throughout most of the twentieth century. [Extracted from the article]

The article analyses expressions of hate speech/behaviour between the two main Cypriot communities - Greek and Turkish. Research and discussion on hate speech is theoretically and empirically informed by the notions of nationalism and otherism which have moulded hate speech perceptions in Cyprus. The major finding is that hate speech between Greek and Turkish Cypriots although subsiding in recent years can be easily triggered by political and social actors by references to history and/or isolated violent incidents. Hate speech is rooted in historical legacies, conservative and nationalistic world-views, takes several forms and permeates Cypriot society, although most times is not explicitly expressed and does not take a violent turn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]