This report provides a broad outline of the ways in which Turkish public attitudes towards Cyprus have changed over time, and the policy implications of such attitude changes. Although such opinions are hardly shared by all nor are homogeneous, the prevalence of particular attitudes, expressed in the language of public discourse and the limits of what is acceptable to say, give us some insight into the relationship between public opinion and government policy. The report takes a historical view of public attitudes towards Cyprus in Turkey, examining public discourse and opinion from the late 1940’s until today.

The report uses archival and media research, as well as ten semi-structured interviews with journalists and policymakers, to examine the evolution of public attitudes towards Cyprus, the Cyprus Problem, and Turkish Cypriots over approximately seven decades. As we show, these three elements have been linked in various ways over time. While from the mid-1950’s to the early 2000’s the perception of Cyprus as a “national cause” encompassed both the strategic and the “human” elements of the problem, the post-2002 period has seen a transformation of Cyprus in Turkish public opinion from a “national cause” to a “national burden.” Moreover, we show that more recently, because of current conflicts in the region and Turkey’s strategic interests; Turkish public discourse has begun to frame a potential resolution of the Cyprus Problem as a “national opportunity.” Examining the evolution of public attitudes towards Cyprus also enables us to consider the current conjuncture and where the relationship between north Cyprus and Turkey, and between Turkish Cypriots and Turkish nationals, may be heading in the future.