Conflict Resolution and the
“Cyprus Question”
Hala Sultan Tekke, one of the most sacred Muslim sites
The Parthenon in Athens, Greece
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Content: Conflict Resolution and the Cyprus Question
Timing: Spring 2012
Course Load: The course will be a six-credit
offering and will have two distinct components.
There will be an in-class portion to be offered on campus
at Niagara University from January through early May
(one meeting per month).
 This will be followed by the field based component, in
Cyprus and Greece, from May 16-30.
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 Note: Graduation is May 13.
 Partner: For the travel component Niagara University
has partnered with Global Learning Semesters, who will
plan the itinerary and in-country meetings.
 Number of Students: Twenty students will be selected
from an applicant pool to participate in the course.
 Application Process: Application includes essays, letters
of recommendation, evaluation of academic performance
 Applicants for the course will be required to write an essay
on a challenging cross-cultural experience in their life and to
explain how they dealt with it and what they learned from
the experience.
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Students accepted into the course will be
required to submit all relevant forms including,
but not limited to, Medical/Liability forms,
Statement of Liabilities and Responsibilities,
and Financial Aid Office documents.
They will also make a $1000 deposit upon
acceptance into the program to hold their place
in the course.
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Due by November 15, 2011
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GLS has offered study abroad opportunities in
Cyprus for many years; they are the most
experienced and largest study abroad provider in
the country.
Their program opportunities include international
relations, international accounting, animal science,
health science, geology, business, and a general
immersion program.
Their connection to the University of Nicosia lends
credibility to their organization, and provides
facilities and resources that will benefit our
students.
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GLS student housing in Nicosia is high-quality. The apartmentstyle dorm rooms, which hold 4+ students, are equipped with
kitchen facilities. Students will be impressed with the quality of
the accommodations. They are not in the center of the city but
transportation is accessible.
While in Greece, students will stay in the Hotel Amalia. This
small, Greek-owned hotel is reasonably priced and located
adjacent to Parliament Square. It is minutes from the Parthenon,
the Agora, the Olympiad, and is across the street from the
National Gardens. Given its central location, and the historical
significance of the surroundings, it is an ideal base for a short stay
in Athens.
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…is an introduction to conflict resolution,
peacemaking, community building, and dispute
management.
Students will be introduced to community
development theory, conflict theory, principles of
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategies
(such as negotiation, arbitration, adjudication,
conciliation, and mediation), and the application of
these concepts to the historical ethno-political
conflict involving Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece.
We will examine the role of the European Union in
facilitating peace, as well as the failures and
successes of the peace process.
Through this course, students should be able to:
 Explain the major theories within the political
science subfield of conflict resolution;
 Write essay examinations that demonstrate
proficiency in explaining the concepts inherent in
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR);
 Conduct research (collect and analyze data) that
demonstrates an understanding of the theories of
conflict resolution as they relate to international
politics;
 Explain how countries differ in their political
orientation, and offer an explanation for why and
how these variations occur
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Cyprus remains forcibly divided since 1974, when
Turkey invaded and occupied forty percent of the
country’s sovereign territory.
The separation of Northern Cyprus—which is not
recognized by international bodies as an official state—
has had major geographic, political, economic, and
social implications.
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The United Nations has adopted a series of
resolutions condemning Turkey’s aggression
against Cyprus with little to no effect.
The European Commission and the European
Court of Human Rights have cited Turkey for
gross and systematic violations of human rights in
Cyprus, again with little to no effect.
Turkish Cypriots have become isolated from the
international community and are deprived of
government services and other benefits available
to all Cypriot citizens and members of the
European Union—to which Cyprus (but not
Northern Cyprus) belongs.
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The “Cyprus Question,” as the invasion and
subsequent occupation have been dubbed, is an ideal
case for examining conflict resolution.
Cypriots, the European Union bodies, and the United
Nations have argued that reunification of Cyprus is the
only solution to the problem.
Turkey rejects such a solution.
Because of ethnic and political divides, reconciliation
and reintegration are mutually advantageous but
unlikely.
Separatist tendencies have been fueled by Turkey, who
continues to use European Union membership as a
bargaining chip for resolving the conflict.
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In the current situation, Turkey controls and
occupies nearly forty percent of the territory of the
island of Cyprus.
Economic conditions are much worse in the North
than in the South because of political and economic
embargoes.
Although travel is permitted across the UNcontrolled buffer zone, no trade or economic
exchange is allowed.
In short, unless conflict resolution processes are
effective, there is no end in sight to the division of
the country and no answer to the “Cyprus
Question.”
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Its geopolitical position has tremendous historical importance. It
is at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East. As the
easternmost country in the Mediterranean, Cyprus has been
crucial for controlling access to the Suez Canal and sea trade.
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Cyprus has been controlled by the Egyptians,
Mycenaeans, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Persians,
Ptolemies, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders,
Franks, Venetians, Turks, and British. The
colonial legacies persist into modern day and
the culture is uniquely diverse because of these
influences.
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As a member of the European Union, Cyprus
will assume the presidency in 2012. As a
result, funds from the European Union are
pouring into the country for improvement of
infrastructure and development efforts.
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As the capital city, Nicosia will serve as the “home
base” for our students in Cyprus.
The city is surrounded by Venetian walls dating
from the 15th century, and is divided down the
center since the invasion and occupation by
Turkish troops in 1974.
As a result, there are many teachable opportunities
about protracted conflict, politics and policies,
ethno-political divides, and cultural differences.
GLS housing is a short taxi ride from downtown
and is accessible on bus routes.
It is possible to reach all parts of the country in
approximately an hour’s drive from Nicosia.
http://www.globalsemesters.com/Cyprus.html
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Students will have the opportunity to meet
with government officials from the Republic of
Cyprus and Northern Cyprus.
They will visit the United Nations facilities and
discuss peacekeeping with specialists.
They will meet with representatives from the
US Embassy, the European Union offices, and
from various non-governmental organizations.
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Students will attend lectures by professors
from the University of Nicosia who are experts
in the “Cyprus Question.”
Dr. Andreas Theophanous, Professor of
Political Economy and Director of the Cyprus
Center for European and International Affairs
at the University of Nicosia has agreed to meet
with the students to discuss current events in
Cyprus. This includes Cyprus’ role as
President of the European Union in 2012.
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Because Greece is a key actor in the “Cyprus
Question,” students will visit Greece as part of
their itinerary.
A visit to the Parthenon and the newly
established Parthenon Museum will enable
students to appreciate the historical
significance of the countries they are visiting.
They will also be exposed to a major
metropolitan center that has a very different
feel and look from what they will experience in
Cyprus.