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As many questions raised by economic historians are politically sensitive in Cyprus,
some basic politicai background is necessary. Cyprus gained independence from
Britain in 1960 after a brief but violent guerrilla war waged by the extreme right of
the (82%) majority (Greek Cypriot) population 14 . They fought, not for
independence, but to annex the island to Greece. Cyprus had previously been
annexed by Britain in 1914 and expected to go the way of other Mediterranean
islands with sizeable Hellenic populations 15 . From 1878, Britain occupied the
island, though technically it remained part of the Ottoman Empire. Following the
Treaty of Lausanne, Cyprus became a British Crown Colony in 1925. Britain
increasingly sought to thwart self-determination in Cyprus, which would then have
meant annexation to Greece. Considering what had happened to other Muslim
Mediterranean islanders following annexation with Greece, the (18%) Turkish-
Cypriot population were understandably hostile to such a move, so had been
recruited by the British to assist in preventing such an outcome. An independent
constitution was eventually hammered out at two conférences in 1959 (Zurich and
London), specifically preventing self-determination and only grudgingly accepted
by the majority community 16 .
Separate economic development began with the breakdown of the new constitution
in 1963, which led to communal fighting and the withdrawal of much of the
14 Republic of Cyprus, 1960. Census of Population and Agriculture. Nicosia: Ministry of Finance ,
Dept. Statistics and Research.
15 For example, in 1913 Crete unilaterally proclaimed its union with Greece, this was legalised by the
Treaty of London, of the same year, following Turkey's abandonnant of her suzerainship.
16 Xydis, S.G. 1973. Cvprus: Reluctant Republic. The Haeue: Moulton.
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