Dissertation Research: The Significance of History and Social Memory in the Construction of Ethnic Identity in North Cyprus

该项目支持一位文化人类学家研究北塞浦路斯土耳其民族认同的性质的论文研究。两个相互竞争的选择，“纯粹的土耳其人”和“塞浦路斯人”为争取人民的忠诚而竞争。该项目将调查每个立场的拥护者如何重新定义从塞浦路斯独立(1960年)到该岛分裂为两个独立的族裔社区(1974年)的关键历史时期，以支持他们的政治目标。方法包括查阅公文档案以及深入访谈和参与观察。这项研究很重要，因为种族认同和竞争似乎是现代世界越来越多的特征。理解相似群体如何以及为什么将自己定义为不同，有助于政策制定者应对由此产生的对立。

This project supports the dissertation research of a cultural anthropologist studying the nature of Turkish ethnic identity in North Cyprus. Two competing alternatives, the "purely Turkish" and the "Cypriot" compete for the allegiance of the population. The project will investigate how adherents of each position redefine the critical period of history from Cypriot independence (1960) to the division of the island into two separate ethnic communities (1974) to support their political goals. Methods include the examination of archives of official documents as well as in-depth interviews and participant observation. This research is important because ethnic identity and contestation seems to be an increasing feature of the modern world. Understanding how, and why similar groups define themselves as different can help policy makers cope with the resulting antagonisms.