The national question in Cyprus and the Cypriot Communist left in the Era of British Colonialism (1922– 59)

This paper considers AKEL’s (Progressive Party of the Working People) stance on Cyprus’s national issue in the era of British colonialism (1922– 59). For analytical purposes, the time span is divided into two periods. The first period covers the years 1922–41, the years during which the CPC (Communist Party of Cyprus) was functioning. The second period extends from AKEL’s foundation in 1941 to the declaration of Cyprus’s independence in 1959. The analytical framework focuses on five parameters that will illuminate the Cypriot communist left’s strategies, tactics and responses to the various developments and phases of the national issue of Cyprus in the period under study: the age of the party; the colonial status of Cyprus; external influences; intra-party conflicts; political opposition. It is argued that the national issue precluded presentation of a socialist agenda to the people of Cyprus, but it also helped AKEL reach out for alliances with other political forces and personalities, and gain and retain a prominent role in Cypriot politics.