摘要：We explore the links between Cyprus's colonial past, divided present, and current water scarcity. With referenceto the concept of fit, we tackle the question of whether we can observe fit in settings where institutions for collective actionwork differently than we would expect. We perform a secondary analysis of interview materials on Cyprus's water conflicts,extracting arguments for and against different solutions to water scarcity. Two perspectives on fit emerge: "island fit", whichsupports island-wide institutions; and "patronage fit", which embodies institutions that link Cypriots to their respective patronsTurkey and Greece. The analysis reveals a preference for island-wide institutional arrangements. However, rather than restingon biophysical considerations, such preference is linked to the feeling of unity of the two communities inhabiting Cyprus. Wetherefore observe institutions that face a trade-off between fitting to social groupings and fitting to biophysical circumstances
关键词：Cyprus; fit; islands; social-ecological systems; water institutions; water scarcity
