Delegitimization Accelerated: Democracy, Accountability and the Troika Experience in Cyprus

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the economic crisis on the Cypriot political and party systems (2008–15). While not solely the result of the economic crisis, the entire political system is experiencing a severe legitimacy crisis: levels of trust in political institutions are low and falling and voters today are very sceptical of political parties. Despite these feelings, though, most Cypriots have decided to exit the political system altogether rather than change their mode and form of participation. Therefore, social and political protest remains minimum and symbolic. All evidence seem to suggest a process of citizen disengagement from politics is taking place: however, while the citizens disengage the party system still exhibits signs of endurance. Nonetheless, on closer examination, changes are materializing at both the individual and the group level. The emerging volatility and increased fragmentation of the political space means there are forces and individuals within society that are not politically or otherwise aligned and/or represented in the political sphere, thus creating niche markets for new entrepreneurs.