Introduction
Understanding collectivism and individualism in the context of society, culture and this blog post is essential. Individusilm is a social pattern that links closely to individuals who view themselves as independent of a collective. In simpler terms, people like autonomy; people prioritise personal goals and rely on themselves.
In contrast to individualism, collectivism emphasises the importance of integrating individuals into strong, cohesive groups beyond their immediate family. This social structure values loyalty to the group and conformity to group norms. It makes decisions for the benefit of the group.
Culture in Cyprus
Larnaca – Photo by Hert Niks on Unsplash
Myth No. 1 – The Smokescreen of Friendliness
Although many people come to Cyprus for a holiday, enjoy their time, and mention how friendly the locals are and how lovely the community is, there is some fiction in this. When someone comes to live in Cyprus from a country like the UK, the US, or any Western side of Europe, they find it hard to connect, make friendships, and be part of society, which is what I experienced firsthand.
Myth No. 2 – The Fake Friendships
Cyprus revolves around money, as individuals seek its corporate tax benefits, engage in money laundering from Russia, or purchase real estate for a Golden Visa. Locals capitalize on these opportunities by forming transactional friendships with foreigners, hoping to benefit financially. The saying “the more you give, the more they love you” rings true, as individuals can even become a koumparos, or brother-in-law, to those they befriend. However, once the money stops flowing, these friendships are often forgotten.
Fact No. 1 – There Are Good People
Despite the prevailing social dynamics, a resilient few individuals uphold their integrity in Cyprus. These remarkable ‘good people’ often distinguish themselves from the mainstream culture by choice or due to their unique social or financial status.
Fact No 2 – Impression is Everything
The shoes, the t-shirt, the Facebook account and friends list, your jewellery, the impression is everything. It doesn’t matter if you can’t walk the talk. At least you show yourself off. This creates tension as everyone tries to one-up each other negatively instead of being truthful and themselves at heart. Go to any Cypriot’s Facebook account, and you’ll see a string of activity, a cult-like following of each other, with every person having at least 200-500 friends, unseen in the West.
Fact No. 3 – Racism is Prevalent
In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and since then, the Cypriot people have held opposing views towards the Turkish people. This is because they view them as invaders who took over their land. Understandably, this hostility has led to negative feelings towards Turkish people. However, the situation has escalated to the point where some people react strongly, even hostilely, when someone mentions their Turkish heritage, such as having a Turkish parent. Some people have even thrown things at individuals or shamed them for their background.
Furthermore, racism is a significant issue on the island. Cypriots discriminate against people with dark or black skin, considering them to be inferior. This leads to discriminatory behaviour and attitudes towards them. Similarly, Muslims also face discrimination on the island. In one instance, someone made a joke in a tavern and called a Muslim person “Bin Laden,” which is deeply offensive and unacceptable.
What do studies say about Cyprus?
A study by Braje et al. (2019) examined collectivism and individuals worldwide, and the findings confirm what has been said above. Countries were ranked from low to high on a scale of 0 to 100 based on how individualistic they are (higher being more). The UK ranked second at 90, while Greece (as Cyprus wasn’t included in the study) ranked 35. That is far lower than any of its neighbours in the European Union.
Conclusion
If you aren’t a Cypriot and want to move to Cyprus for retirement, then the culture shouldn’t be much of a problem, if you keep in mind that making Cypriot friends might be more difficult. On the other hand, moving to Cyprus with children can be a big risk, as being part of society and integrated is a lot more difficult due to the closed-off culture, resulting in groupings of students and adults from childhood to adulthood and beyond.
Lastly, if you are a person of colour, it might be better to first visit the country, go to rural areas, and see how people respond and how you feel. Although not all of Cyprus is like that, many people unfortunately end up reporting the same issue. Therefore, it’s better not to commit to life in Cyprus before correctly assessing the situation.