The Position of Turkish Political Parties on the Cyprus Issue and its Developments 1950–1974

Abstract

The stance of Turkish political parties toward the Cyprus issue and its developments during the period 1950–1974 represents one of the most significant conflicts in the Eastern Mediterranean during the twentieth century. The roots of the crisis can be traced to the tensions between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots on the island of Cyprus, alongside external interventions, particularly by Britain, which contributed to the escalation of the conflict. Later, Turkish and Greek involvement under the Zurich and London Agreements of 1960 further intensified the dispute. This study aims to analyze whether the positions of Turkish political parties were primarily driven by their political ideologies or were shaped in response to internal and external developments. The research demonstrates that party dynamics and domestic political rivalries played a clear role in shaping Turkey’s foreign policy toward Cyprus. While some parties adopted negotiation-based approaches, others favored more rigid positions aimed at protecting the Turkish Cypriot community, particularly after the events of 1963–1964. As tensions escalated, the positions of most parties gradually converged in support of military intervention, which culminated in the Turkish intervention in Cyprus in 1974. Although this intervention achieved certain strategic gains for Turkey, it also resulted in long-term international repercussions.