The vote for a united Cyprus deepens divisions: the 24 April 2004 referenda in Cyprus

Abstract:

The article describes the background to the referenda in Cyprus on the United Nations plan for the reunification of the island. It examines the role of the international community and domestic actors in the campaign and analyzes the outcome. It explains why in the Greek Cypriot community, the status of refugee and socioeconomic criteria had limited impact on the vote, while in the Turkish Cypriot community the indigenous population offered overwhelmingly higher support than mainland settlers did. Reference is made to long-term processes that may explain the vote of each community on the island.