Project Description

The aim of this project is to examine the impact of cultural tourism policies on local communities as well as the power relations involved in the construction of an “authentic” Cypriot tradition. The first element that needs to be explored is the way(s) in which EU policies are being implemented by the Cyprus state and the effect(s) on the local people. The second issue to be explored is the cultural heritage representations associated with power relations and knowledge, both at the local and global level i.e. bureaucracy (public sector officials) Vs villagers, EU Vs Cyprus, and West Vs East.

Who has the power to construct the representation of Cyprus cultural heritage? Which elements are selected to form the Cyprus cultural heritage, and which are being excluded? Who has the power to decide what is “worthwhile” for preservation and hence funding? On the basis of which criteria? How are funds made available and how are they accessed? How do representations of Cyprus “traditional” culture compare to British representations during the colonial period? Are Cypriots reproducing a colonial image of themselves (Argyrou Vassos, 1996)? These questions will be explored within an anthropological perspective. They will contribute towards our understanding of cultural tourism, its impact on local people, as well as, the position of peripheral states, like Cyprus, in the European Union.