Mentality of Cypriots

Crash Test Dummy · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject: Mentality of Cypriots

Forgive me for being out of 'the loop' with Cyprus recently but I have still been browsing.

Was talking to a Cypriot friend of mine and we got onto the mentality of Cypriots in the South. Not sure how procedure goes in the north but its fairly irrelevant in this topic.

Koubarocracy - the general belief that screwing people over in return for favours is acceptable. And generally being at a major disadvantage in life if you don't know the right people. And its a self perpetuating cycle since you grow up around the 'right people' you inevitably get that job which makes you one of the 'right people'.

This is not a new phenomenon and happens all over the world, but years ago Cyprus was like this to a painful degree. I know I am not telling people anything new here but its all relevant.

However I think I am noticing a change. As the new generation of Cypriots grow up going to their high-schools and drinking their Frabe in the Cafe I think this mentality is a dying trait of the population.

Maybe its the increasing population or maybe its just me.

Anybody agree?

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2165

re how is it right to pay people to go to cyprus and vote ??? more corruption

Crash Test Dummy · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject:

Well I know 2 people who went to Cyprus on the cheap just to visit and dint do what they were paid to do

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2165

dolia · Villager Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Hello people. I learned about the forum and I really wanted to join.

So, here's what I think about the mentality of Cypriots, me being one
I grew up with that mentality, the one "crash test dummy" called a koubarocracy. But I saw that a lot of people did not approve of it, and do not accept it.
A lot of people are now studying or living abroad. And that makes them realise how small an island cyprus is. And how utterly stupid this mentality is. And of course, if they got a job abroad, like ie in the UK, they see that qualifications are what matters, and not who you know in the government.

My parents' generation still lives by this mentality. But it is my impression that a lot of youth doesn't

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1771 Location: Canada

welcome dolia.

what does your signature say in english?

dolia · Villager Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Hi repulsewarrior, and thanx for the welcome

The signature says "Berlin is poor, but sexy". It's what Berlin's mayor said in an interview some years ago,and it's now something like a moto

Crash Test Dummy · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject:

Dolia has hit understood my point exactly.

Maybe its because I am meeting more Cypriots of my genreation, who are begining to see the reality about how insignificant Cyprus actually is, that I feel this.

Cyprus is becoming too big and no longer a closed community. Your days are numbered old timers Laughing

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1771 Location: Canada

...moreso, the demographics of the island will change significantly. and this will start in the very near future because of our membership in the EU.
being a society that provides service to others, Cypriots will have to adapt to a condition where their "Greekness" or their "Turkishness" will represent a very small part of their identity as people whose culture has a "Nationality" which is clear.

Dream_Merchant · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

'Koumbarocracy' is a form of selective favoritism and indeed it exists in a dominant, although not overpowering, form in Cyprus. But it is not something that is indigenous to Cyprus, as it exists in many other countries and societies where similar social parameters exist.

How 'Koumbarocracy' has evolved is rather simple. One need not go further than analyze the word. A 'Koumbaros' is the best-man at a wedding. This has two intertwined implications. The 'Koumbaros' favors the bride and groom, who are about to start their own life, and in return the new family accepts the 'Koumbaros' as an integral part of their inner circle of trust. So in a sense, 'Koumbarocracy' is fundamentally no different than 'sticking' together with your family members. For example, if your brother needs a job, you would do you best to secure him a job. Or, if your sister needed help with her car, you would recommend a good mechanic for her. But 'Koumbarocracy' takes this a step further and includes a wider array of networked individuals and families that have an unwritten pledge to aid each other, so as to better their collective welfare and by implication their own individual well being.

The reasons why such a mentality prevails is also twofold. The first reason is that Cyprus being an island, is physically cut off from the rest of the world, and hence Cypriot society in general being xenophobic (albeit hospitable..something worth analyzing in its own right) tends to favor this form society in an effort to keep out unwanted foreign elements. The second reason is that the Cyprus markets are still very much based on word of mouth. Information hence is a valued commodity. For example, an employer has no information on the workforce pool, and the job seeker has no information on the job market. Hence, they both rely on trusted contacts in securing this essential information. The filtering and selection of this sort of information leads to the effect of 'Koumbarocracy'.

The reasons why it is difficult to change this mentality is also worth noting. The first and most important reason is that it works. Despite everything that is said against it, 'Koumbarocracy' is a tolerable form of selective favoritism as it is based on the context of mutual trust. Whether or not it is the best form of social ordering that can be implemented on the island is debatable, however keeping in mind the overall conservative nature of Cypriots, any abrupt changes to society are seen with a hostile viewpoint. Another reason is that 'Koumbarocracy' is self propagating and self regenerating. In order to advance in society one needs to call in favors, and if and when that happens, one is morally in debt to the person that supplied the initial favor, with all the implications that are implied. One could argue that it would eventually stop when people stopped giving favors, but this is an unrealistic way of thinking as it disregards social weeding, where such members would be ostracized in preference over others more willing to cooperate.

In a sense, it is a grand form of corruption, but in a much more neater form and with a sound basis.

EDIT: Oh and about the 'new generation' .. two notes: one, they have not yet entered life, when they do they will naturally fall into 'Koumbarocracy'. and second, knowingly or otherwise, their whole Frappe society is a precursor to 'Koumbarocracy'. After all why do they gather at cafes? To extend and reinforce their social networks, and what better or more pleasant way to do that than over a cup of coffee.

Crash Test Dummy · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject: