The origins of the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) : international politics on the road to United Nations Security Council Resolution 186 (1964)

United Nations Security Council Resolution 186 (1964) forms the basis for the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which is currently the longest running United Nations peace-keeping operation. However, the processes leading to the creation of an United Nations force, as opposed to some other peace-keeping force under NATO or the Commonwealth have not been adequately investigated in terms of the international political environment that existed at the time.

Part I sets the historical context of the work. Chapter I examines the historical development of the Cold War, the United Nations (particularly peace-keeping), and the doctrine of non-alginment. Chapter II evaluates the Greco-Turkish conflict, the intercommunal history of Cyprus and the process of British decolonisation in Cyprus.

Part II presents a review of the period from the outbreak of intercommunal violence in Cyprus to the eventual passing of Resolution 186. A period which had three distinct phases: (1) a regional emphasis centred mainly on Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, (2) a phase of Superpower involvement, and (3) the involvement of the Security Council, which, on 4 March 1964, resulted in United Nations Security Council Resolution 186 (1964).

The thesis concludes that despite the efforts of the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey, President Makarios engaged in a determined policy to internationalise the essentially intercommunal situation in Cyprus in order to prevent a Turkish intervention in the island. In the course of pursuing such an aim he was able to prevent the formation of a NATO-based peace-keeping force by exploiting the Soviet Union's interest in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. This move led the United Kingdom to initiate a first-strike policy and have the Cyprus issue discussed in the Security Council. The eventual result of this was the formation of UNFICYP, and it highlighted, in practical terms, the degree to which peace-keeping relied on the consent of the host state in the Cold War international system.