Neo-Ottomanism, Islam and migrants: the AKP’s battle in North Cyprus

Identity politics and migration policies in the northern part of Cyprus have been shaped by various events since Turkey’s intervention in 1974. The subsequent establishment of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) in 1983 has resulted in Turkey having an increased impact on the Turkish Cypriot political landscape as the TRNC is today only recognised by Turkey and can be classified as a de facto state. Beginning in 2009, during the second term of the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party – AKP) in government, the process evolved with the identity change of the AKP; an Islamic component has become visible in all aspects of the daily and political lives of Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriot community, fearing these developments, expressed their displeasure, which led to increased discrimination towards immigrants from Turkey. In light of these developments, this article discusses the role of Turkey in Northern Cyprus since 1974, with a specific emphasis on the AKP’s Islamic identity and its effects in the northern part of Cyprus. In parallel with this aim, the article argues that the AKP pursues a Neo-Ottomanist approach to fully maintain its Islamic identity through migration policies with reference to North Cyprus.