Jurisdictional self-reliance for small island territories : considering the partition of Cyprus

Abstract

Jurisdiction relates to the competence to pass laws, build effective administrative processes, facilitate inward capital flows, encourage education and support the development of a climate conducive to economic growth. This paper argues that jurisdictional capacity provides the foundation for an economic development trajectory which has been successfully deployed in various small, resource-poor, often island, territories. The components of such jurisdictional capacity—in terms of administrative autonomy, island identity, legal powers and the potential for rapid policy deployment—will be referred to for a critical examination of ‘The Cyprus Question’. The analysis suggests the partition of Cyprus into two separate sovereign states as solution.