The natural gas and the protracted conflict in Cyprus

Using strategic action fields (SAFs) concept from Fligstein and McAdam's a theory of field, the thesis examined the Turkish and Greek communities' natural gas struggle in the same field and how they shaped the protracted Cyprus conflict. The struggles and interactions in the context of natural gas and the protracted Cyprus conflict, two embeddedness strategic action fields (SAFs) in Cyprus, are comparatively analysed in this thesis. The results show that the processes and results in natural gas SAF are based on the limited successes and failures of the protracted Cyprus conflict SAF that is its antecedent. On one hand Natural gas in Cyprus waters not only encouraged resumption of the Cyprus talks to solve the protracted Cyprus conflict but also sparked a debate on rights, equality and ownership based on the protracted Cyprus conflict. On the other hand, natural gas in Cyprus waters is used by parties as a game changer for a more favourable peace settlement to the protracted Cyprus conflict. Additionally, intervention of the international actors and governments from outside created a temporary stability that included consent of the two sides.