Cyprus-Forum.com

[Talisker]

Have been reading a paper 'Trauma, identity and search for a solution in Cyprus' (http://www.vamikvolkan.com/History-of-Cyprus.php) by Vamik D. Volkan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Professor Volkan is Turkish Cypriot.

He makes the following interesting observation in this paper:

Large-group identity issues among the Cypriot Turks have began to exhibit themselves in some universities in Northern Cyprus, creating serious concerns among university authorities. For example, it has been observed that Cypriot Turkish university students have begun to segregate themselves from their fellow university students from mainland Turkey. If a young man or woman from a Cy­priot Turkish group starts dating someone from among the students from Turkey, or vice versa, the couple becomes socially isolated. Cypriot Turkish university stu­dents refer to students from Turkey as “extreme religious” or “extreme nationalist” individuals and attempt to differentiate their large-group identity from that of mainland Turks. This situation, according to some university authorities whom I interviewed, could conceivably lead to violence.

The question has to be is this a hopeful sign or a retrograde step in considering possible future reunification within Cyprus? Are TC students distancing themselves from their Turkish peers because they wish to maintain a Cypriot identity and would prefer to integrate with their fellow Cypriots in the free south, or is it an indication that TCs as a group just cannot integrate with anybody?

[insan]

Have been reading a paper 'Trauma, identity and search for a solution in Cyprus' (http://www.vamikvolkan.com/History-of-Cyprus.php) by Vamik D. Volkan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Professor Volkan is Turkish Cypriot.

He makes the following interesting observation in this paper:

Large-group identity issues among the Cypriot Turks have began to exhibit themselves in some universities in Northern Cyprus, creating serious concerns among university authorities. For example, it has been observed that Cypriot Turkish university students have begun to segregate themselves from their fellow university students from mainland Turkey. If a young man or woman from a Cy­priot Turkish group starts dating someone from among the students from Turkey, or vice versa, the couple becomes socially isolated. Cypriot Turkish university stu­dents refer to students from Turkey as “extreme religious” or “extreme nationalist” individuals and attempt to differentiate their large-group identity from that of mainland Turks. This situation, according to some university authorities whom I interviewed, could conceivably lead to violence.

The question has to be is this a hopeful sign or a retrograde step in considering possible future reunification within Cyprus? Are TC students distancing themselves from their Turkish peers because they wish to maintain a Cypriot identity and would prefer to integrate with their fellow Cypriots in the free south, or is it an indication that TCs as a group just cannot integrate with anybody?

The case simply arises from cultural differences.. like urban TCs don't like to have close relations with rural TCs and vice versa... It's impossible such a situation leads to violence between Turks and TCs.

For TCs who study in Turkey the case is different... They usually get marry with a Turk either stay there and live in Turkey or return Cyprus and settle down... depends on economic abilities and job opportunities they r offered by their parents.

[Talisker]

Have been reading a paper 'Trauma, identity and search for a solution in Cyprus' (http://www.vamikvolkan.com/History-of-Cyprus.php) by Vamik D. Volkan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Professor Volkan is Turkish Cypriot.

He makes the following interesting observation in this paper:

Large-group identity issues among the Cypriot Turks have began to exhibit themselves in some universities in Northern Cyprus, creating serious concerns among university authorities. For example, it has been observed that Cypriot Turkish university students have begun to segregate themselves from their fellow university students from mainland Turkey. If a young man or woman from a Cy­priot Turkish group starts dating someone from among the students from Turkey, or vice versa, the couple becomes socially isolated. Cypriot Turkish university stu­dents refer to students from Turkey as “extreme religious” or “extreme nationalist” individuals and attempt to differentiate their large-group identity from that of mainland Turks. This situation, according to some university authorities whom I interviewed, could conceivably lead to violence.

The question has to be is this a hopeful sign or a retrograde step in considering possible future reunification within Cyprus? Are TC students distancing themselves from their Turkish peers because they wish to maintain a Cypriot identity and would prefer to integrate with their fellow Cypriots in the free south, or is it an indication that TCs as a group just cannot integrate with anybody?

The case simply arises from cultural differences.. like urban TCs don't like to have close relations with rural TCs and vice versa... It's impossible such a situation leads to violence between Turks and TCs.

For TCs who study in Turkey the case is different... They usually get marry with a Turk either stay there and live in Turkey or return Cyprus and settle down... depends on economic abilities and job opportunities they r offered by their parents.

So urban and rural TCs don't mix, and neither integrates with Turks?

[paliometoxo]

see its the older ones that would rather partition and would rather turkey kills off their identity then live with gcs not the younger ones

[Talisker]

see its the older ones that would rather partition and would rather turkey kills off their identity then live with gcs not the younger ones

That's what I'd like to think, paliometoxo. Do you know any TC students and can verify this further? The alternative (inability to integrate with others) would be most concerning.

[paliometoxo]

i know tc students who feel that way yes... i visit the north often to see these students tc friends of mine who feel that way.. point out to me every time they see a turk they hate the mainland turks its like they stay far away from them

[Talisker]

i know tc students who feel that way yes... i visit the north often to see these students tc friends of mine who feel that way.. point out to me every time they see a turk they hate the mainland turks its like they stay far away from them

Would there likely be violence against them if they fraternised closely with mainland Turks, as suggested in Professor Volkan's paper?

[Oracle]

Well if we ever needed proof that the TCs have been unwilling to integrate with GCs, not because there is anything wrong with GCs, but conversely, the TCs are a rarefied breed who are unable to socialise and mix with others, this is it.

Living proof, since some things never change, that the TCs are exaggerating when they say it is the GCs who drove them into enclaves, or drove them out of Cyprus or made them fearful. It is their own psyche which is isolationist. This TC Prof has (inadvertently) given us a glimpse of the repeat of history. Yes the TCs will enclave themselves away from Turks; yes they will leave Cyprus to get away from Turks. Yes they will kill Turks. And, what have these Turks done to them, but bring them "peace" and free handouts. Yet look how these ungrateful TCs behave towards them.

TCs want segregation because they cannot live with anyone else. Well, that is their problem and it's high time they took a good look at their greedy, selfish, indulgent mentality and stopped holding on to the property of others based on imagined "fears" ... and real xenophobia!

They have NO case when they moan about "1963 - 1974" ... it is their doing, their behaviour and their intolerance to others and that is NOT good enough to demand a separate state!

[insan]

Have been reading a paper 'Trauma, identity and search for a solution in Cyprus' (http://www.vamikvolkan.com/History-of-Cyprus.php) by Vamik D. Volkan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Professor Volkan is Turkish Cypriot.

He makes the following interesting observation in this paper:

Large-group identity issues among the Cypriot Turks have began to exhibit themselves in some universities in Northern Cyprus, creating serious concerns among university authorities. For example, it has been observed that Cypriot Turkish university students have begun to segregate themselves from their fellow university students from mainland Turkey. If a young man or woman from a Cy­priot Turkish group starts dating someone from among the students from Turkey, or vice versa, the couple becomes socially isolated. Cypriot Turkish university stu­dents refer to students from Turkey as “extreme religious” or “extreme nationalist” individuals and attempt to differentiate their large-group identity from that of mainland Turks. This situation, according to some university authorities whom I interviewed, could conceivably lead to violence.

The question has to be is this a hopeful sign or a retrograde step in considering possible future reunification within Cyprus? Are TC students distancing themselves from their Turkish peers because they wish to maintain a Cypriot identity and would prefer to integrate with their fellow Cypriots in the free south, or is it an indication that TCs as a group just cannot integrate with anybody?

The case simply arises from cultural differences.. like urban TCs don't like to have close relations with rural TCs and vice versa... It's impossible such a situation leads to violence between Turks and TCs.

For TCs who study in Turkey the case is different... They usually get marry with a Turk either stay there and live in Turkey or return Cyprus and settle down... depends on economic abilities and job opportunities they r offered by their parents.

So urban and rural TCs don't mix, and neither integrates with Turks?

Not all ofc... it all depends on their social, educational and economic circumstances...

According to my observations, the TCs(including Cyprus born settler's children) that have groupings of same or similar culture and live significantly TC populated areas; don't like culturally aversive(aversive racism?) Turkish uni students...

The Turkish students who come TRNC to study r the lowest "quality" students who educationally r not adequate to enter any of the Turkish Unis in Turkey.

Some 10% of these Turkish students r extremely arrogant which i call them "rich bumpkins" and others mostly, either r middle-class ignorants(mostly religous but not extreme) or indoctrinated nationalists(sometimes extreme).

Neither rural TCs nor urban TCs would wish to have close relationships with such kind of Turkish males.

However for TC uni males the case is different... ignorant or not; all Turkish girls of their type(physically) r welcomed for any purpose... including dating and marriage...

[zmx]

The case simply arises from cultural differences.. like urban TCs don't like to have close relations with rural TCs and vice versa... It's impossible such a situation leads to violence between Turks and TCs.

Hardly.

Up until very recent times there was hardly a solely "urban" population in Cyprus in the first place.

Even those who lived in towns still had strong connections to the countryside and the rural lifestyle, so the lifestyles of the urban and rural populations wasnt great enough for there to be a social divide between the two.