Abstract

Europeanisation has played an important role in the transformation of Cypriot multicultural education. This paper reports on a review of policy-related documents and semi-structured interviews carried out with Cypriot policy-makers. Theoretical insights from policy sociology and theories of Europeanisation are used to examine this research endeavour. Influenced by European developments multicultural education became an important part of the Cypriot state’s rhetoric. The concept came to be seen as evidence of Cyprus’s adherence to the educational goals of the EU, which, in turn, provided a concrete expression of Cyprus’s sovereignty. However, there was an absence of systematically thought out initiatives to develop a coherent state-derived multicultural policy. The Greek Ministry of Education and its policy of simulated multiculturalism operated as a template for Cypriot multicultural policy. Cyprus’s collaboration with Greece, which has a brief experience of immigration, has impeded the transformation of its multicultural policy. In conclusion, Cyprus’s cooperation with European states which have a longer experience of immigration could mobilise the formulation and implementation of successful Cypriot multicultural policies.