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how and why development followed the path that it did within the respective
communities of the island, speculating on the possibilities for and of re-unification.
Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island, about the size of the English
counties of Norfolk and Suffolk combined. Much of its history has been as a
conséquence of it location, 40 miles south of Turkey and 60 miles west of Syria. It
has, however, benefited from more than its fair share of academic interest, given its
small size, partly because of its recent turbulent politicai history. Unlike other
locations nearby, that recent history posed few risks to outsiders. Perhaps, above
ail, Cyprus has played host to much academic interest because of its attractive and
welcoming ambience. The British connection has contributed to the quality and
relative accessibility of archivai material. Consequently the island has found itself as
something of a laboratory for social scientists. The Republic is a perfect empirical
base for economists interested in development, macro-economic phenomena being
relatively small-scale and reasonably well documented. Government Departments
and commercial institutions use dominant international statistica! standards and
British accountancy practices respectively, maintaining generally open access to
researchers. Access to some economic data is, however, influenced by increased
politicai tension 13
and always more difficult when contemplating pan-Cypriot
research.
13 6/4/1998 Financial Times reported that "Because he [Denktash] contests the legality of the Greek
Cypriots' EU application, Mr Denktash says he will refuse to let the Commission in Brussels gather
any data on northera Cyprus, just as he did in 1992 when commission officiais were preparing their
initial "opinion" on Cypriot membership." p.30, column 5.
17