In Depth

Special Edition

on Federal Studies and

Governance

in Biethnic and Multiethnic States

Special Edition 1, 2013

November 2013

 

The Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs (CCEIA) is currently leading a project entitled “Network for Federal Studies and Governance in Biethnic and Multiethnic States” coordinated by Professor Andreas Theophanous. This Project is funded by the Research Promotion Foundation. Within this framework the CEEIA is organizing on November 18, 2013 an international symposium on “Issues of Politics and Governance in Biethnic, Multiethnic and Divided States”.  Also on Wednesday November 27, the Center organizes a seminar in which Nasia Hadjigeorgiou will address the topic “The Right to Vote in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus: Sejdic and Aziz Compared”.

Description of the Project

Issues of governance in biethnic and multiethnic states and societies have traditionally been a major theme in international politics. This theme has assumed greater importance and relevance following the end of the Cold War. The objective of this project is to create a network that forms the basis of a UNIT of Federal Studies and Governance in Biethnic and Multiethnic Societies (hereafter the UNIT) in order to examine these issues. The general objectives are to:

(i)          Advance the study of federalism and governance in biethnic and multiethnic societies;

(ii)       Transfer and combine theoretical and empirical knowledge from different countries and regions (i.e. US and Balkans);

(iii)     Contribute to the study of issues of politics and governance in divided societies; and (iv) eventually evolve into an entity of international reputation and network capacity to bring together leading international scholars and think tanks. 

 

The Center thorough this project aims to achieve a range of goals in Cyprus and beyond; this includes projecting values such as peaceful co-existence, multiculturalism and democratic governance in the broader region. Methodologically, we will:

(i)          Set up an International Academic Advisory Council (hereafter the IAAC)

(ii)         Create the necessary administrative, technological and research infrastructure;

(iii)        Network with similar institutions globally;

(iv)       Invite leading international scholars to work with/at the UNIT for a specific period of time.

The main activities of the UNIT will be:

(i)          Research on issues of federalism and governance in biethnic and multiethnic states;

(ii)         Networking and cooperation among scholars from various countries with the purpose of discussing relevant theoretical issues as well as case studies; and

(iii)        Organization of symposia, conferences, round-table discussions and seminars.

 

The anticipated results are:

(i)          Academic and policy-oriented research publications;

(ii)         An enhanced understanding of federalism and governance of biethnic and multiethnic states (including Cyprus);

(iii)        A notable international reputation about the UNIT and its work, which will help promote the development of Cyprus into an international centre of excellence in the study of these issues. 

 

The benefits expected to accrue from this UNIT are:

(i)          The establishment of networks and practical ways of cooperation between academics from Cyprus and other countries;

(ii)         Immense value to Cyprus in several ways; e.g. Cyprus as a country moving towards a federal model will find it of great usefulness; subsequently the UNIT will also project itself beyond Cyprus;

(iii)        An enhancement of the theoretical understanding and level of sophistication on issues pertinent to federal systems of government;

(iv)       Contribution to the discourse on the Cyprus problem (i.e. on the negotiated federal system of governance, issues of co-operation and co-existence) and transfer/dissemination of this knowledge to the broader region (Middle East, Balkans, Caucasus); and

(v)        Broader theoretical contribution on the subjects under study, which will be disseminated through the consortium’s publications, conferences and other activities.

 

The Consortium of the project consists of four highly esteemed institutions, These institutions are:

·         the Center for State Constitutional Studies (USA)  

·         Academia Europea Bolzano/EURAC (Italy) 

·         the European Center for Peace and Development/ECPD (Serbia) 

·  the Host Organization, Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs,     

 

In an effort to encourage discussion on the issues involved this special edition includes a number of short articles published by the bimonthly e-newsletter “In Depth” in the past three years as follows:

 


September 2013:

 

Cyprus Problem: The Current State Of Affairs  (by Andros Kyprianou)

 

The Cyprus Problem In 2014: Three Differences From 2004 And One Similarity (By Michalis Attalides)

 

The Cyprus Problem: What Next? (By Emilios A. Solomou)

 

The New Un Initiative For Cyprus: Déjà Vu All Over Again (by Giorgos Kentas)

 

Beyond Initial Impressions (by Andrea Petranyi)


November  2012:

 

Armenians In Aleppo: Between A Rock And Hard Place (By Arda Jebejian)

 

The National Security Threats in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (by Efraim Inbar)


September 2012:

 

Orhan Pamuk and “Infuriating” Turkish Bourgeoisie (by Emel Akçali)

 

A Resurgent PKK Confronts Turkey (by Tozun Bahcheli)

 

From Ratko Mladic to Andreas Breivik: Europe and its minorities (by Amikam Nachmani)


July 2012:

 

The Ghosts Of Cyprus (By Robert Ellis)


June 2012:

 

The Arab Spring and Broader Strategic Implications (By Gerassimos D. Arsenis)

 

National Security VS Human Security: A Conceptual Assessment of Conflicting Narratives In The Middle East (By Farid Mirbagheri)

 

The Islamist Moment in The Middle East and Turkey: Expectations and Realities (By Ismail Kemal)


April 2012:

 

The Arab Spring and its Impact on Native Minority Communities (By Habib C. Malik)

 

The Turmoil in The Middle East: Changes and Challenges (By Shlomo Avineri)


February 2012:

 

Turkish lessons for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood (by Tozun Bahcheli)

 

Iraq: The Battle around the “shield of the Arabs” (by Sotiris Roussos)


April 2011:

 

South Africa’s Transition to Democracy: Some Reflections (by Tony King)


February 2011:

 

The Fall of the Islamic Scarecrow and the New Arab Awakening (by Lea Basma Zerouali)

 

Lebanon: “Birth Pangs of a New Middle East”? (by Arda Jebejian)


April 2009:

 

What next for Cyprus? (by Andreas Theophanous)