The contact hypothesis: Its application to the Cyprus problem

Abstract

The main aim of this thesis was to empirically examine whether increased contact between people from both communities can lead either to the reduction or escalation of ethnic conflict and towards a new laissez-faire for their co-existence under the same state mechanism. To achieve this objective a number of secondary objectives were also addressed: 1. Investigation of the causes and the factors which have led to ethnic conflict in Cyprus. 2. Identifications of the reasons behind the sustained ethnic conflict in Cyprus through the years. 3. Examine whether through the course of an intensive (albeit quiet) conflict in Cyprus, each of the two communities has evolved an ethos of conflict which shapes and manifests the group's social, behavioural and cognitive frameworks, something that in turn serves as the epistemic basis of the conflict. 4. Provision of an empirical framework that would allow the application of the contact hypothesis theory to examine ethnic conflict in Cyprus.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo