The Cypriot Welfare State: Contradiction and Crisis?

Abstract

Within the framework of the socio-economic evolution of Cyprus the welfare system of the island is depicted since the 1960s. A discussion then follows as to what extent Cyprus can be viewed as a welfare state using Mishras' (1990) definition and in what category it falls under using Esping-Anderson categorization (in Mishra 1990). Finally, a brief overview of the contradiction of the Cypriot conservative/corporatist welfare state is highlighted vis-à-vis its crisis-ridden European counterparts.