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The causal relationship between economic growth and defence spending has attracted considerable attention and has been the subject of many empirical studies. Hoping to contribute to the existing pool of literature, this paper examines the relationship between military expenditure and growth in the case of Cyprus, a small island economy, for the period 1964-99. The findings reported suggest the presence of bi-directional instantaneous causality between defence spending and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines teachers' understandings of affective indoctrination in a conflict-affected society, focusing on how teachers' political orientations are entangled with these understandings. The exploration is conducted through a qualitative study of Greek-Cypriot primary and secondary school teachers who are identified as either conservative or progressive. The findings highlight that regardless of political orientation, teachers interpret the term indoctrination through a negative lens. However, teachers of progressive orientation view affective indoctrination as a part of everyday educational practices, whereas teachers of conservative orientation understand affective indoctrination as an exceptional case. The paper discusses the implications for teaching and teacher education. The relevance of teachers' political orientation makes it all the more necessary that teachers and teacher educators delve deeper into the political and pedagogical implications of the entanglement between political orientations and understandings of affective indoctrination in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary Greek Cypriot popular music scape, we witness various and varying instances that feature cultural heritage elements: the frontman of a hard rock band performing in a vraka, the traditional male trousers; a trap song making references to lefkaritiko, a traditional lace; a metal band opening their album with an acapella tsiattisto, a traditional oral poetic style. This paper discusses these and other instances by placing them in the wider historical and political framework of the Republic of Cyprus. Distinguishing between tradition and heritage, as well as place and space, it suggests that the creative turn to the cultural past of Cyprus can be interpreted as a redefinition of the modernisation and decolonisation process of the Republic of Cyprus, which is accomplished through an inward look that emphasises the geographical and cultural particularities of the island. This inward look, it is argued, speaks back to the historical process of decolonisation that was defined by external references (attachment to the motherland(s), desire for Westernisation, and opposition to the 'Other'). The decolonisation process, itself the cause and effect of conflict and sentiments of ethno-nationalism, defined the identity of postcolonial Greek Cypriot subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we set out to examine children's voices on inclusion through a systematic review of empirical studies carried out in Cyprus over the past 20 years. Specifically, it focuses on research related to this field and investigates the ways in which these studies illustrate the importance of children's perspectives as a means for promoting inclusion and challenging segregational practices. The aim of such analysis is to bring to the surface the diverse ways and methodological tools in which children may be actively involved and have their voices heard. Moreover, our analysis seeks to point out the major issues raised by children with regards to areas of concern or suggestions for inclusion. In this context, the originality of this study lies in integrating findings and perspectives from the available empirical studies as well as in synthesising research findings to depict evidence on a meta-level and reveal areas in which more research is needed and to sum up suggestions for further policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the role and agency of the architecture exhibition as a mediated space of discursive spatial narratives. The presented curatorial approach draws on the exhibition entitled Past-forward: Stavros Economou Unarchived (2021) to reflect on the development of a multimedia-enabled reading of the architectural archive. Stavros Economou is one of the most important representatives of modern architecture in Cyprus, yet his work is underdiscussed and under-published. The architectural archive, unlike other collections, consists of representations (such as drawings, models, photographs) of artefacts (buildings) that communicate design processes and final un/built proposals. The curatorial practice focused on a twofold challenge: on one hand, it explored the role architectural representation can play in the production of the multiple and complex (hi)stories of modern buildings, and secondly, it considered ways in which an architecture exhibition can connect with the host city and its local population by addressing contemporary urgencies of spatial inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on Afro-Cypriots, whose ancestors came to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus during the Ottoman period. The paper contributes to extant literature by exploring the impact of colonialism, racism, and slavery by questioning the ways Afro-Cypriots navigate their identities within the particular context of North Cyprus. By de-emphasizing the ethnic division of Turkish and Greek Cypriot identities, this paper focuses on the shifts from double consciousness to developing Afro-Cypriot consciousness. A rich methodology of oral history interview analyses from 20 Black Cypriots and a life-story narrative of a pioneering Black Cypriot expose the communal and familial microaggressions towards darker skin tones. We explore how colonial construction of ethnicity as a master status creates double consciousness for Black Cypriots. The paper concludes with a call against colour prejudice in Cyprus for a positive shift in Afro-Cypriot people's everyday experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper argues that Chinese involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean is primarily motivated by increasing the country's economic role within the region through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The paper uses case study analysis methodology dwelling on the evolution and content of Chinese involvement in Greece and Cyprus. Primarily focusing of the nature of the Chinese investments in strategic sectors of the two cases in question the role that that China plays in Eastern Mediterranean is described as a 'silky involvement'. China's policy choices are also perceived to be an opportunity for Greece and Cyprus to combat the negative effects of 2007–2008 economic crises and to increase their geopolitical stronghold in the post-Cold War geopolitical environment of the Eastern Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to evaluate the state of Greek-Turkish relations in light of recent developments in the reconfiguration of Turkish foreign policy. Following twenty years of détente and relative calm in bilateral relations, the year 2020 witnessed two escalations in Greek-Turkish relations, one in March involving refugees and immigrants on the Greek-Turkish land border and another in August involving military vessels of the two countries. The refugee crisis and potential military conflict regarding energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean have raised tensions at a moment the political and institutional tools for the promotion of conflict resolution between Greece and Turkey linked to Turkey's EU membership perspective appear to be obsolete. This paper seeks an answer to the question of whether structural or ideational factors played the most prominent role in the recent escalation of the Greek-Turkish disputes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the alarming rise in intercommunal conflicts worldwide, knowledge regarding post-conflict cultural heritage issues must advance to help formulate effective management systems and policies. Through an Actor-Network Theory-inspired approach, this paper explores the actors’ role in protecting religious heritage sites abandoned by displaced communities. Discourse analysis of relevant literature and empirical data from exhaustive fieldwork documenting and categorising the use-status and preservation state of church sites from Northern Cyprus has revealed multiple networks of human and non-human actors and actants. Through ANT concepts of fact-building and translation, a flat platform has been developed showing the positions and interests of the conflicting parties with a focus on the neglected or underestimated dimensions of heritage protection. This platform allows heritage conservation to be viewed from a broader perspective and, in a sense, helps dilute the conflicting parties’ positions and make their stakes less critical. It also emphasises the importance of compromise solutions, including pragmatically negotiating potential alternative uses and actively integrating the local community with the stakeholder group to protect the heritage of the displaced communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational tourism and urban spaces are complex and interwoven phenomena of the contemporary globalized world. The extended windows of time that students of higher education institutes spend in the host cities makes them more than mere visitors; they become part of the everyday life of the urban context. Nevertheless, the interdisciplinary relationship between urban studies and edu-tourism remains understudied in contemporary literature, especially considering emerging types of data that can provide new insights. This paper draws on volunteered geographic information to explore interactions between higher education students and their host cities. Geotagged Twitter data was analysed in terms of both spatial density and content. The study was conducted in two coastal cities of Cyprus. The analysis indicates tendencies for student interactions with spaces outside the university campuses—with the majority of tweets associated with non-educational interaction types and venues with diverse spatial signatures. This study argues that edu-tourism is largely associated with urban tourism and it is essential to consider these interactions in decision-making and urban planning to improve both the tourism industry and the urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper engages with the issue of teacher education for inclusion and particularly with the approach of employing disability arts and narratives of people with disabilities in university based courses for inclusion. It draws on three examples of anti-oppressive curricula that were developed as part of a graduate university module in Cyprus that encouraged student teachers to engage with disability arts and narratives in order to understand key ideas developed in disability studies and inclusive education. The three examples presented in this paper are representative of the three approaches all the participating student teachers followed, and indicate the strategies they used and the nature of the materials they chose. The discussion considers how these approaches can further inform teacher education for inclusion and how using disability arts and narratives can inform the discussion on other issues concerning teacher education of inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social segregation, limited opportunities for interaction and increasing semi-private public spaces, largely contribute to underused public areas of the city. This paper argues that playful design experiences achieve more than aesthetic outcomes. Implemented as 'tools' for personal, social and spatial enhancement, they allow user engagement in exciting and responsive environments. A case study on Cyprus' capital, Nicosia, demonstrates an event which acted as a catalyst for improved spatial usage, increased sociability, and lasting changes. Playful designs therefore have the potential to change user opinions and create new links between users and places, allowing positive experiences within previously underutilized public spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Republic of Cyprus (RoC) becoming the 12th member for joining the Commonwealth on 13 March 1961. Topics include Foreign Minister chairing the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and parliamentary and governmental officials regularly participating actively in all Commonwealth meetings; and ranging from the socio-economic spectrum to political parties as well as the former anti-colonial guerrilla leader.

This paper examines the intellectual and sociological contribution of Sitas as a diasporic public intellectual who bridges and navigates between continents. Sitas's creative, scientific, and critical engagement in postcolonial thinking connects Cyprus to Africa, drawing from both his country of origin, Cyprus, and South Africa, where he excelled as a dramatist, poet, sociologist and public intellectual. This 'in-betweenness' seems to be the basis for the vantage point from which to observe society to inspire him during his remarkable intellectual and artistic journey within and between the continents. Perhaps unknown outside Cyprus, Sitas has had a crucial impact on the development of critical social sciences and civic action in Cyprus: the study of racism, intolerance, and the potential for reconciliation and between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots and bringing to Cyprus postcolonial perspectives from the Global South, opening new readings in the study of reconciliation, borders, migration, precarity and social space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our narrative sources for the history of Cyprus largely fall silent for the period between the death of Pope Clement V in 1314 and the passing of King Hugh IV of Lusignan in 1359. The Vatican Archive helps fill the gaps, notably the papal letters addressed to the apostolic nuncios stationed on Cyprus, who played a particularly important role in the reign of Pope John XXII (1316–34). One of these nuncios, Pierre de Manso, wrote a surviving letter to the pope, dated 1332 and edited here in an appendix, which provides precious information about the nature of this office in the early fourteenth century. With the help of the author's forthcoming edition of the over 600 letters of Pope John concerning the kingdoms of Cyprus and Armenia, this paper investigates the roles, responsibilities, and problems of papal nuncios on Cyprus, encountering sometimes fierce opposition from the crown and from other members of the Latin clergy, especially in the collection of papal taxes. It offers an in-depth examination regarding sources of papal income from Cyprus – primarily clerical tithes, annates, and spoils from deceased prelates – and the difficulties in raising it, how the money was transported to Avignon, and how funds meant to support Cilician Armenia were diverted to finance papal warfare in Italy. It also looks at Pope John's policy of controlling all episcopal, archiepiscopal, and patriarchal appointments. An appendix highlights the shortcomings of existing calendars of papal letters concerning Cyprus and argues for a southern French origin of Pierre de Manso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the economic impact of major passive sport events is well documented, the contribution of active sports events is scarcely examined. This reflective practice paper contributes towards bridging the gap by examining, in a case study, the economic impact of one of the first big active sport events in Cyprus, organised using the state-of-the-art technology. The paper presents the first commercial web platform and recommender system dedicated to active sports events, which provide all necessary services to customers and thus simplify, and ultimately increase participation in the event. We find strong evidence in support of the idea that active sport events have a strong positive impact on the local and countrywide economy, while the technology can contribute and enable further promotion and better organisation of such events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the factors that influenced urban development in Cypriot cities and how the Cypriot planning system evolved to address such factors. Limassol is chosen as the case study for an in–depth approach in order to come to general but precise conclusions. The paper offers an interpretive–historical narrative of the urban development of the city from the latter part of the Ottoman period to the present day in order to understand the mechanism through which Cypriot cities have grown and the role of planning in shaping their form and influencing how they function. The objective is to provide a comprehensive description of factors, mechanisms and actors involved in the emergence and transformation of Limassol, and in particular the role of planning in its historical evolution and in more recent regeneration and development projects. The narrative was constructed using a variety of primary and secondary sources, including travellers' reports, historical cartography, press articles and interviews with expert stakeholders. The paper concludes with an assessment of the current state of planning in Cyprus, its potential future directions, and remarks on the effectiveness of the narrative in interpreting causal pathways of development and evaluating the impact of planning actions and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyprus Government Railway (CGR), which operated between 1905-1951 was constructed during the British Colonial period. Railway heritage is important, since it is part of the common cultural heritage of both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities living on the island. However, division of the island is a challenge to the conservation of the railway heritage. Unfortunately, little effort has been made by the two communities to document, preserve and reuse railway heritage buildings and related structures. The main goal of the paper is to raise the awareness of the railway heritage in Cyprus and to propose strategies to use this common heritage as a tool for reconciliation in a divided island. The method of the study included archive survey conducted to identify original railway buildings and structures. Secondly, field studies were completed in order to record the present day condition of the railway heritage. Lastly, a vision for the future of the shared heritage has been put forward for inter-communal benefit. CGR is a shared heritage of the both the communities. Due to its potential to contribute to the reconciliation of the society, conservation of the railway heritage is crucial in terms of transferring the culture to the next generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report on a study that sought to examine how Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers, working in Cypriot public schools, combine pedagogies of ECE and inclusive education. We were also interested in how having children with disabilities in their classes informed their practices. We purposively selected and interviewed seven female teachers who, according to our judgement, had good knowledge of the ECE theoretical framework and commitment to inclusive education. We followed a thematic and a narrative approach to analyse the data, and presented the findings in the form of a portrait narrative of an imaginary teacher. The discussion maps the repertoire of practices across the assumptions of inclusive and ECE pedagogies. In our conclusion, we offer these practical implications: inclusive ECE teachers should be knowledgeable of ECE theory and praxis, committed to the assumptions of inclusive pedagogies, and work individually and collectively to educate all children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper re-examines the archaeological and geographical criteria, as well as ethnographic paradigms used to write the history of the agrarian communities of the eastern Mediterranean. It combines anthropological research and archaeological evidence to examine the socio-economic dimensions of rural cooperatives, and subsequently attends to their formative role in increasingly complex agrarian economies. This paper argues for a middle ground between enduring top-down vs bottom-up perspectives to consider alternative views that highlight agency and entrepreneurship coexisting with cooperation and consensus in agrarian production. It subsequently discusses the contentious evidence for rural cooperatives by considering evidence for their presence within a more nuanced rural history, using the case of Cyprus in the 2nd millennium BCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiritual leadership gains attention amongst researchers for closing the gap between achieving personal and organisational goals. Despite documentations that spirituality undergirds head teacher's actions leading inclusive schools, research still remains thin in understanding how spirituality underpins leadership for inclusive education. This paper draws on the philosophy of critical realism to offer a conceptual tool that identifies head teachers' spiritual actions in their efforts to include ethnic minority students. This is done through multiple qualitative methods collection from an in-depth case study at a multicultural primary school in Cyprus. The critical realist framework helps uncover head teacher's spiritual actions in a more systematic, structured and holistic way. It reveals that head teachers' spirituality supports the goals of inclusion and occurs in at least four interrelated and emergent ontological levels (psychological, social, cultural and policy levels) which are set in four scaler levels from microscopic to macroscopic (sub-individual, micro, meso and macro levels). This framework problematises mono-dimensional and reductionist understandings of spirituality in leadership. The paper concludes by suggesting solutions to enrich leadership programmes for inclusive education with fostering leaders' spirituality at different ontological levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-spatial density of cities creates a critical setting for the spread of viral infections. Urban public space provides a ground for people to interact with others outside of their immediate social network. Interaction with weak or absent social ties is critical in the spread of the pandemic, as it represents a connection with strangers. Accordingly, non-pharmaceutical urban measures often aim to limit these interactions as a means for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. This paper explores the effects of these control measures, comparing the mean distances between geotagged tweets within an eight-month timeframe in the city of Kyrenia, Cyprus. Furthermore, the paper questions the lasting effects of these measures on the socio-spatial structure of the city. The results indicate that the mean distance between tweets increases during the full quarantine and goes down immediately after the restrictions are lifted, but it does not reach its pre-pandemic status. The outcome also shows the localisation of activities during the outbreak which necessitates further elaboration on the relationship between newly emerged social norms and urban space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout antiquity, clay constituted one of the primary building materials used for architecture in Cyprus, as well as in other Eastern Mediterranean countries. This material was mainly used for the manufacture of adobes and mortars. The research presented in this paper constitutes one of the first comprehensive studies involving both in situ and laboratory analyses of 27 clay samples selected from eight different prehistoric sites from the Neolithic to Late Bronze Age. The chosen sites include the earliest permanent settlements of the island. The macroscopic and microscopic examinations, as well as chemical and mineralogical analyses, showed a variety of soils used as raw materials, mainly derived from the surrounding areas. It was revealed that the most abundant mineral was calcite. A moderate concentration of quartz and clay minerals was also found. However, some variations between samples selected from the same site were observed. Some rare minerals, such as celestite and gypsum were discovered in the Neolithic samples. At the same time, natural fibres such as straw were recognised in many samples. The investigation showed a chronological development of earthen structures and especially adobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The British took over administrative control of Cyprus in 1878 and three years later all uncultivated land was converted into State Forest. The removal of people from the forest over the following 60 years had long term social impacts—clearance is manifest in the absence of a connection and knowledge of the forest and its past inhabitants. This paper explores how clearance is resisted in rural Cyprus through the practice and performance of heritage. It is derived from the community-engaged Pathways to Heritage Project that sought to understand the places and practices of significance to the village of Nikitari located on the outskirts of the Adelphi State Forest, Cyprus. I focus on two stories of resistance. Elder Panayiotis Alexandrou Loppas grew up in the forest and spent his life resisting clearance through visiting his places of significance and performing memory. He reworks the past in order that he and his ancestors are remembered into the future. Teachers and pupils of the Asinou Regional Primary School chose the abandoned village of Asinou as the anchor for a new school identity. Their research transformed this forgotten place into a heritage site while setting the foundations for a new regional identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once celebrated as a tourist destination, and now filled with derelict hotels, Varosha is a contested landscape at once embodying contradicting political and economic aspirations and featuring vividly in negotiations for political reconciliation in Cyprus. This paper provides a history of the antagonisms that surround this area by interrogating the creation of hotels and landscapes of leisure in 1960s Varosha and by exposing how these aspired to transform the cultural identity of the entire island. Casting the spotlight on the Golden Sands hotel, the paper demonstrates that, along with advancing iconographies of global modernity, hotel design was insidiously shaped by ethnic disputes as well as socio-economic and environmental contestations. Seen in the context of other conflict-torn cities, this history of the contested landscape of Varosha provides crucial insights into the imbrications of architectural history and design practices in the management of contested instances of modern, twentieth-century heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has proposed that the Philistine city of Tell es-Safi/Gath was centrally involved in the copper trade from Faynan and Timna in the Wadi Arabah, and that the end of Arabah copper production in the second half of the 9th century bce should be attributed to the destruction of Tell es-Safi/Gath by Hazael, after which Cyprus replaced the Arabah as the major source for Levantine copper. This paper argues that the assumptions underlying this interpretation are not supported by the evidence. Gaza, not Tell es-Safi/Gath, was the main terminus for the Arabah copper trade; the termination of copper production in the Arabah was not an abrupt end caused by external intervention, but the result of a long process of decrease in administrative control and abandonment of copper production sites from the early 9th century bce; Hazael's motivation in destroying Tell es-Safi/Gath was more likely owing to its size and dominance of the region, and its economic power through olive oil production; Cypriot copper production had already intensified in the late 10th and first half of the 9th centuries bce, while Arabah copper production was still at its peak. An alternative and more complex explanation for the end of copper production in the Arabah emerges from this re-evaluation. The Arabah industry may have lacked the leadership and administrative infrastructure to compete with the renewed Cypriot trade. It continued to produce copper and probably traded it to established markets, but finally petered out by the end of the 9th century bce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief paper reexamines Oliver of Paderborn's description of the aftermath of the Fifth Crusade in light of different dating practices, Caesarius of Heisterbach's remarks, and Cypriot documents. It concludes that Oliver remained in the East far longer than often thought, that his coverage of events is thus more direct, that in September 1222 the crusade leaders stopped in Famagusta where a famous meeting was held, and that in May of that year an earthquake must have destroyed Limassol Cathedral, killing the bishop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper was designed to explore the factors influencing profitability within the business sector using a methodological framework rooted in Marx's concept of the profit rate. By addressing the complexities of profitability changes, this study investigated the factors that drive profitability within the business sector of the Republic of Cyprus for the years 2006–2022, including: a period of severe structural crisis and change (2013–2014), a period of recovery (2015–2022) based on the outcomes of the crisis, and a period (2006–2012) against which shifts can be contrasted. The findings of this empirical study suggest that a substantial portion of the increase in profitability since 2015 is due to the reduction in the value of the labour power during the crisis years (2013–2014) and following the COVID-19 pandemic period (2021–2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In trying to assess the causes behind Cyprus's request for a financial bailout, the paper takes a step back and reviews the economy of the island within a comparative political economy framework. With reference made to varieties of capitalism (VoC) literature, the paper sets a twofold target. Initially, by introducing Cyprus into the VoC literature, it attempts to underline the limitations of existing literature in allowing for a smooth categorization of Cyprus under the Mediterranean model of capitalism, and, subsequently, it seeks to explain the economy's near collapse, highlighting that Cyprus is not merely another piece of the sovereign debt crisis mosaic covering the European Southern periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the process of policy formulation and implementation in relation to children commonly described as having ‘special educational needs’ and disability (SEND), in Cyprus and in England. Drawing on qualitative research evidence from key primary documentary sources including legislation, statutory and non-statutory guidance and reports, it provides a comparative analysis of the content and the spirit of policy in both countries over the cycle of a century. The findings indicate that Cypriot policymakers have engaged in a process of ‘policy snatching’ from England, following four phases: charitable segregation and categorisation; enlightened legitimisation and categorisation; integration, ‘special educational needs’ and categorisation; inclusion, SEND and categorisation. Using the analogy of Aesop’s well-known fable ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’, the paper concludes that England, symbolically characterised as the hare, appears, overtly at least, to have moved ahead; while Cyprus, characterised as the tortoise, has been following slowly behind. However, progress has been slow in both countries, and the hare may well have fallen asleep. It is argued that whilst some common ground exists between the two countries, there is an inherent danger in transplanting selected elements of policy texts from one socio-cultural historical context to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the extent to which Cyprus' Commonwealth membership has remained relevant following the country's accession to the EU in 2004. It is argued that, despite the predominant role of Cyprus' EU membership, the importance of the Commonwealth for the promotion of the country's political agenda and international co-operation has not diminished. There has been a steady Cypriot participation at high-level Commonwealth meetings post-EU accession. However, the importance of the Commonwealth to the everyday life of Cypriot citizens remains marginal, especially when compared to EU membership. The decision of the UK to exit the Union could precipitate an increased interest on the part of Cyprus in its Commonwealth membership, that could , eventually, even act as a bridge that might help establish a partnership cooperation mechanism between the EU and the Commonwealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on a variety of primary sources to investigate the various economic, political or sentimental perceptions of the Greek Cypriot political and economic elites over the prospective accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the Commonwealth. The debate was triggered at the onset of the Transitional Period (February 1959–August 1960) – when Cyprus evolved from a colonial possession to an independent state – and extended until the nascent republic joined the international organisation in 1961. By explaining these goals and concerns, this study contributes to the political history of Cyprus and benefits scholarly knowledge on the wider history of the Commonwealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new preventative measures that have emerged from the Coronavirus crisis brought about changes in different aspects of daily life. Some of these changes may have a significant impact on how the built environment is being experienced. The current paper examines reconfigurations that happened in residential spaces and space allocations for transitioned activities in a small case study targeting a group of architecture students in Cyprus. Analysis and findings are structured in three sections, indoor activities, special organization, and quality of life. The result shows blurring boundaries between public and private activities. In terms of spatial configuration, in-between spaces such as balconies and openings become central in designing residential units. Moreover, the study finds that the successful transition of work, education, exercise, and remote social interactions into the housing unit is the best predictor of reported quality of life under quarantine. It is unclear which parts of newly emerged measures will last even beyond the end of the pandemic; however, developing new insights into COVID-19's impacts on living environments can help to introduce design responses that improve quality of life by creating better residential environments in the post-pandemic world where the remoteness of many daily activities is becoming the norm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of the British Colony of Cyprus as a clearing ground for Jewish refugees on route to Palestine before, during, and after the Second World War. While acknowledging the historiographical consensus underscoring Cyprus' renewed strategic importance in the context of British post-Second World War imperial retreat in the East, the article argues that Jewish transmigration revealed new potential uses for the island which in turn contributed to confirm British sovereignty in that possession. Drawing on British and Cypriot sources, the article further shows the transformative impact of Jewish transmigration for Cyprus politics as it induced British authorities, who had established an authoritarian regime in the island in the 1930s, to invoke Cypriot reactions in order to stem the flow of refugees to the island. This paved the way for future policies meant to redefine the relations between rulers and ruled. As the management of refugees coming to Cyprus during the period under scrutiny relied on ever more refined instruments of classification, the paper finally highlights the contribution of Empire to the crafting of official categories to designate people on the move—'refugees', 'illegal immigrants'—which still inform European migration policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores Greek-Cypriot media representations of national identities during negotiations on a United Nation Plan (the Annan Plan), aiming to reunite ethnically divided Cyprus under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. The study analyzed thematically 57 editorials and lead commentaries published in all the daily Greek-Cypriot Press from the presentation of the Annan Plan in November 2002 to April 2004, at which point two simultaneous referenda were held. The study's findings are consistent with ideas that national identifications are not static and provides an in-depth exploration of exclusive forms of Cypriot identities vis-à-vis more inclusive forms and vis-à-vis hellenocentric identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an original survey (n = 1,017), this paper examines citizens' participation patterns in the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' ('TRNC'), a de facto state recognised only by Turkey. Since 1974 the 'TRNC' has been receiving a constant flow of immigrants from its patron state (Turkey). While Turkish immigrants make up a sizeable proportion of the electorate, they seem to be underrepresented in the political arena. Our findings show that, in determining the level of political participation, socio-economic factors are pre-eminent while having an immigrant background has only very limited effect and gender does not have any impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the values characterizing the society, the state and the stakeholders in relation to the education of disabled children in Cyprus are outlined. A critical analysis is carried out, followed by examples deriving from the Cypriot context. The national context is placed within the international context, so that the discussion finds its place in a more broad framework. Value-driven action at all levels is related to current and prospective developments in Cyprus that are expected to provide further answers to the points made throughout the paper. Finally, it is argued whether or not having some of the existing values as a baseline for productive changes is possible, while the restatement of some other values is thought to be of equal importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the change and continuity in the Turkish policy toward Cyprus since the de facto partition of the island in 1974. The exploration of the relationship between Turkish nationalism and foreign policy toward Cyprus suggests that the language of Turkish nationalism regarding the Cyprus question has been far from monotonous. It is shown that the period coinciding with the coming of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) in 2002 in particular was a critical juncture which opened up the discursive space for the re-articulation of the 'Cyprus problem', legitimising efforts in relation to reunification. Yet the partial nature of the discursive shift and the absence of a complete paradigmatic change—explained here with reference to structural and historical features of the Cyprus problem as well as the contingent nature of the European Union (EU) membership prospects—has meant the return of the well-entrenched narratives on the conflict and national identity. Also revealing the ways in which Turkish Cypriots have responded to such changes in policy and rhetoric from Ankara, the paper aims to complement existing accounts of trans-border nationalism in conflict and post-conflict settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper talks about the impact of Turkish aid on the macroeconomic development of Northern Cyprus. Since the physical division of the island of Cyprus in 1974, Turkey has been sending considerable financial aid to the de-facto state in its northern part, but the impact of this aid on local economics and politics has been controversial. We show that foreign aid has not been directly relevant for economic growth of Northern Cyprus. We suggest that persistence of aid, despite its negative impacts, can be explained by Turkey's geopolitical interests on the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the demand for maize, milk powder, butter, and rice imports in Cyprus, using annual time series data covering the period 1975-1994. None of these products is produced in Cyprus and all the necessary quantities are imported to meet domestic demand. The primary objective of the paper is to derive long-run price and income elasticities of import demand that can be used to analyse the impact of various policies such as the adoption of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) when, and if, the Republic of Cyprus joins the European Union (EU). In so doing the paper takes on board some recent developments in time series econometrics. The cointegration test used (the 'bounds' test) is a recent test and is based on the estimation of an unrestricted error-correction model (UECM). Parsimonious models were derived using Hendry's 'general to specific' approach. The estimated elasticities were subsequently used to quantify some of the implications for Cyprus had the CAP been operational in 1994. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and through what mechanisms vulnerable adults are empowered through a second-chance education programme. At the same time, the paper aims at unveiling the obstacles hindering learners’ empowerment process and making suggestions for the improvement of the educational programme fostering further empowerment of the learners. To achieve the objectives set by the research, a hybrid methodological design was applied combining hermeneutic phenomenology and critical discourse analysis. Data collection was performed using three tools: semi-structured interviews, reflective journals and document analysis. The results led to the emergence of a multilevel empowerment scheme of vulnerable adults in the programme. The empowerment mechanisms that emerged were as follows: (a) empowerment through participation as a self-value, (b) empowerment through the reconstruction of past experiences, (c) empowerment through the strengthening of their social capital and (d) empowerment through literacy skills. At the same time, the study shed light on a number of factors that inhibit the process of learners’ empowerment, which unveil structural and operational weaknesses of the programme as well as of the policies pursued by the State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the domestic and international politics shaping the Cyprus Conflict between 1967 and 1974. Throughout the period investigated by this paper, Archbishop Makarios tried to preserve the Cypriot independence, integrity and sovereignty by withstanding the terrorist activities of Greek Cypriot paramilitary groups, local autonomy demands of Turkish Cypriot leadership and the interventions of Greece and Turkey. The anti-American Greek Cypriot Left sided with Makarios against the Greek Junta. Prior to the 1974 incidents, Henry Kissinger had been informed about the internal and external threats targeting Cyprus. During the 1974 crisis, he was provided sufficient information monitoring the unlikelihood of a Greco-Turkish war. Under these circumstances, the US government supported the federalization of Cyprus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper summarizes the methodology followed, to evaluate the accuracy of different digitization methods of ecclesiastical monuments in 3D computer vision form and stresses the importance of photographic equipment calibration. In this study, a set of images were taken using the CANON EOS M5 digital camera, while the internal calibration parameters – horizontal and vertical focal length (fx, fy), principal point coordinates (x0, y0), radial distortion coefficients (K1, K2, K3), tangential distortion coefficients (P1, P2) and the affinity and the shear terms (b1, b2) were estimated. These parameters were calculated using different software applications and then analyzed. For the calibration procedure, 3D texture models were built with the Agisoft commercial software based on: (a) the aforementioned calibration parameters and (b) the self-calibration process. The overall accuracy (Root Mean Square – RMS) between these models, by comparing known geo-referenced ground-control-points (GCP) is presented through the Cloud Compare software. The results indicate that the internal calibration parameters of the digital camera used for documentation purposes are essential and should be systematically implemented for documentation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this short paper, I want to examine the function, and a number of ethical and clinical dilemmas, in deciding to continue to work in the consulting room with an 18-year-old boy during the first Covid-19 lockdown in Cyprus. This patient displayed a borderline organisation of the schizoid type, with a marked false self presentation. To understand this work, I build on Winnicott's theories, as well as Monica Lanyado's ideas. Lanyado explores how the presence of the therapist and that of the therapy itself acquire functions beyond those commonly defined within the psychoanalytic framework – in this case, due to the nature of the collectively experienced phenomenon of the lockdown. Local circumstances, restrictions and realities in Cyprus are described, as they occurred at the time of the first Covid-19 lockdown, showing how the patient's pathology became intertwined with the above conflicts and dilemmas that I faced as his psychotherapist, and as a fellow member of the local and global society. I argue that under such unusual conditions, psychotherapist and patient become part of the same local and global collective, and only if they work 'hand in hand' can they survive a collectively experienced trauma, at a time when most human contact was forbidden by law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absences, in terms of lacks, are identified by researchers as explaining factors of failure in inclusive education, for example, the absence of minority ethnic students’ native language from instruction. However, there is a lack of a clear framework against which to discuss issues of absence in the education of poor minority ethnic students. In this paper, I draw on the notion oflaminated systemsfrom Roy Bhaskar’s critical realism philosophy, in order to provide a conceptual theoretical tool for identifying and addressing absences in the education of poor minority ethnic students in a more structured and conscious way. This is done by drawing on qualitative empirical data, collected from a school with a high concentration of poor minority ethnic students in Cyprus, as part of a PhD thesis. Findings illustrate thatabsence(s) are interrelated and emergent features which occur indifferent levels of reality. Absences need to be identified and decided a posteriori for each case, whereas mono-dimensional, non-specific or ‘one-size-fits-it-all’ strategic actions should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present paper takes the approach of critical hermeneutics in human rights education (HRE) that has been developed theoretically and tries to operationalize it in pedagogical practice. In particular, a group of Greek-Cypriot teachers were trained in a series of workshops on how critical hermeneutical approach (CHA) could be taught in the context of HRE. The paper explores teachers' difficulties with and perspectives of CHA during the training designed and offered by the authors. The findings show how, in addition to epistemological issues involved concerning the meaning and implications of the CHA, the particularities of the local context (ethnic conflict, pedagogic traditions, educational structures) influenced the uptake of this approach. The implications are discussed in relation to the need to identify the difficulties teachers have with specific pedagogical approaches of HRE as they become manifest contextually, and the need to design teacher training in which teachers have opportunities to reflect upon and engage with these difficulties through a critical interpretive lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the results of an exploratory study focusing on the perceptions of elementary school principals who espouse a critical multicultural approach and show signs of a social justice leadership style. The study has taken place in an ethnically divided society (Cyprus) in which the political situation seems to influence the ways in which school leaders perceive issues of justice and multiculturalism. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 principals who espoused a critical multicultural approach and subscribed to values of social justice leadership. The analysis of these principals’ interviews reveals two important findings—one concerning the conceptualization of critical multiculturalism in a society that suffers from ethnic division and the other concerning the contextualization of social justice leadership in this setting. The paper discusses the implications for leadership preparation programmes and for future research on social justice leadership and critical multiculturalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the experiences of minority students from two different cultural groups, immigrant children of Pontian background and indigenous minority children of Roma descent, in the Greek-Cypriot educational system. Through a joint re-examination of results from two different qualitative studies, this paper delineates similarities and differences of how life at school is experienced through the eyes of children who are not part of the mainstream, in an effort to gain insight into the nuances of being a minority child in the specific educational system. Comparisons across the two groups of children suggest that although both groups shared a minority status, they nonetheless experienced marginalisation across different dimensions that were linked to their dual multilayered position as both insiders and outsiders. Attention to such complexities enables us to gain deeper understandings of children’s lives, as too often the category of ‘minority child’ seems to be treated as a monolithic and homogeneous one. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The importance of culture in understanding cross-cultural phenomena is now widely acknowledged. This paper seeks to explore the impact of the Greek-Cypriot culture on constructing notions of disability which dominate popular culture and education. Since culture cannot be understood without the study of history, this analysis takes a historical character. The findings presented in this paper are part of a larger research project regarding the personal and political experience of disability in Cyprus during the period 1966-2004. This paper focuses on how the concept of disability was constructed in Cyprus through political, social, religious, and educational responses to disabled children and adults mainly during the period 1970-90. The relationship between culture and segregation, medicalisation and charity is analysed. The current turn towards inclusive rhetoric is also explained. The paper ends with a critical consideration of our cultural inheritance regarding disability and it draws the connection with non-inclusive practice currently taking place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]