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An Account of the Development of Social Insurance for Cyprus, 1878-2004; with Particular Reference to Older People

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An Account of the Development of Social Insurance for Cyprus, 1878-2004; with Particular Reference to Older People An Account of the Development of Social Insurance for Cyprus, 1878-2004; with particular reference to Older People Gregory Neocleous PhD University of York Social Policy and Social Work September 2014 ABSTRACT This thesis explores and analyses the evolution of social insurance in Cyprus from 1878-2004 and those factors that led to its development. In order to provide a comprehensive view the study begins with the arrival of the British in Cyprus in 1878 after 300 years of Ottoman occupation. This study includes an analysis of the labour movement which spearheaded the campaign for the introduction of social insurance. Both the labour movement and the British colonists are considered as significant players in the story of introducing social insurance in Cyprus. The labour movement acted as a source of pressure in its campaign for improved social welfare whilst the British created as many obstacles as possible against such a development. In addition, the study illustrates the social conditions of the general population but with particular emphasis on the older population, the group most affected by a lack of social insurance. This emphasis includes a detailed study and analysis of the role of elderly people and their movement in their campaign for improved pensions. The thesis is divided into five chronological periods with each having its own significance in the evolution of social insurance. The analysis in each chronological period illustrates the events and the outcomes of its introduction and the turbulent and dramatic course of its evolution as well as its significance in supporting workers and pensioners. The study is based on a documentary research method utilising various primary and secondary sources as well as oral history interviews with eight key persons in the area of social insurance, the labour movement and the older people‟s movement. The study also makes use of the work of seven authors from different areas of expertise and at different points in time. The conclusions of the thesis indicate that social insurance in Cyprus was not a state „creation‟ but, instead, the outcome of persistent campaigns from ordinary people struggling against the odds. Finally, the thesis concludes with the accession of Cyprus to the European Union (EU) in 2004 where any future developments in social policy will be shaped and regulated by the decisions and guidelines of the European Union. 2 Contents Abstract 2 List of Photographs 6 Acknowledgements 7 Declaration 8 Chapter 1 -Introduction 9 1.1 Origins of the Study .................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Structure of the Thesis ............................................................................................. 11 1.3 Summary ................................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 2 -Setting the context 15 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 15 2.2 The conflicting nature of social policy and the welfare state ..................................... 16 2.3 Class Struggles ........................................................................................................ 27 2.4 Capitalistic antagonism............................................................................................ 31 2.5 Family Welfare ....................................................................................................... 34 2.7 Welfare through colonialism.................................................................................... 37 2.8 Aim of the Study and Research Questions ............................................................... 39 Chapter 3 -Research design and methodology 43 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 43 3.2 Documentary Research ............................................................................................ 44 3.2.1 Archives ....................................................................................................... 46 3.2.2 Published Commentaries ............................................................................... 51 3.3 Interviews ............................................................................................................... 57 3.4 Data Analysis and Ethics ......................................................................................... 62 3.5 Strengths and Weaknesses ....................................................................................... 66 3.6 Summary ................................................................................................................. 67 Chapter 4 -The Beginning of British rule, 1878-1900 69 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 69 4.2 Cyprus in 1878 ........................................................................................................ 69 4.2.1 Strategic importance ..................................................................................... 69 4.2.2 Transition from Turkish to British rule .......................................................... 70 4.2.3 British administration .................................................................................... 74 4.2.4 The Ottoman legacy ...................................................................................... 78 4.3 Challenge of Living Conditions ............................................................................... 83 4.3.1 Persistence of poverty ................................................................................... 83 4.3.2 Foundations of the Labour Movement ........................................................... 92 4.4 Summary ................................................................................................................. 94 3 Chapter 5 -The early twentieth centruy, 1900-1931 97 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 97 5.2 Deteriorating Social Conditions ............................................................................... 97 5.2.1 Experience of deprivation.............................................................................. 97 5.2.2 Financial plight of the elderly population..................................................... 103 5.3 Work and the Labour Movement ........................................................................... 107 5.3.1 The working environment ........................................................................... 107 5.3.2 Rise of the labour movement ....................................................................... 116 5.3.3 Struggle for trade union recognition ............................................................ 122 5.4 Summary ............................................................................................................... 126 Chapter 6 -Growth of the labour movement and introduction of social insurance, 1931-1960 130 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 130 6.2 The Social Impact of Economic Crisis ................................................................... 130 6.3 Working Conditions and Labour Relations ............................................................ 134 6.3.1 Legalising Trade Unions ............................................................................. 142 6.3.2 Strikes ......................................................................................................... 149 6.4 British Colonial Government Response ................................................................. 153 6.4.1 Public Assistance Aid ................................................................................. 153 6.4.2 Legislating for social insurance ................................................................... 155 6.5 Summary ............................................................................................................... 171 Chapter 7 -The Republic of Cyprus, 1960-1974 174 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 174 7.2 Social Interventions ............................................................................................... 175 7.3 Amending Social Insurance ................................................................................... 180 7.4 Elderly People‟s Movement (EKYSY) .................................................................. 190 7.4.1 Establishment of EKYSY ............................................................................ 190 7.4.2 EKYSY Campaign ...................................................................................... 193 7.5 Impact of the 1974 Turkish Invasion ...................................................................... 195 7.5.1 Social insurance .......................................................................................... 196 7.5.2 Elderly population ....................................................................................... 197 7.5.3 Local traditions of elderly care .................................................................... 199 7.5.4 Elderly refugees .........................................................................................
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