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Begin New Search Topic Multiculturalism Publishing Institution European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)

1. National Minority Capital: Introducing the New Concept

Author:
Zora Popova
Publication Date:
10-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
The aim of this issue brief is to present the novel concept of national minority capital and to define it against the background of minority and social capital studies. The concept is based on analysis of empirical evidence within the frameworks of past ECMI research projects and the conceptual models designed for their purposes. It sits at the intersection of regional development studies, minority studies and social capital theory, which helps it to offer an alternative perspective and inspire further interdisciplinary academic research and debates on the topic. Although the model and the theory are only at their initial stage, the discourse that they introduce can help policy and decision makers in their strategic planning. National minority capital can become an asset and economic advantage to states but only if they can manage diversity so that individuals belonging to minority communities feel motivated to offer their cultural competences to the benefit of the multicultural societies to which they belong.
Topic:
Governance, Multiculturalism, Minorities, Ethnicity, and Identity
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2. The FCNM at 20: Is There Indeed a Crisis?

Author:
Ljubica Djordjevic
Publication Date:
12-2018
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
The occasion of the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) has called for recapitulation of its effects and provoked debates about the current state of affairs in the European system of minority protection. The general tune of the comments/observations is rather cloudy: although the significance of the FCNM has been acknowledged, it has been often remarked that the system is in a crisis and stuck in a dead-end. It has been argued that states are more reluctant to the concept of a multicultural society and to the minority protection, that bilateral relations increasingly affect the position of respective minorities and, consequently, multilateralism has ceased to be the dominant method to solve issues in minority protection. The monitoring system has also been subjected to criticism, suggesting it is inefficient and unable to enforce the principles set out in the FCNM. The purpose of this Issue Brief is to outline some basic tendencies in the dynamics of the FCNM in the past 20 years, with the aim to explore whether the FCNM is indeed in crisis, as it has often been argued. The first part shows the quantitative dynamics of the FCNM: the timeline of the process of submitting instruments of signature and ratification, as well as reservations, declarations or communications. It also addresses the problem of the delays in the monitoring process that have been observed and rightly criticized. The second part focuses on the qualitative impact of the FCNM on the protection of national minorities in its states parties. Here, some general positive and negative trends have been pointed out, which the Advisory Committee has brought up in several of its Activity Reports. The Issue Brief is part of the ECMI larger research project seeking to assess the impacts of the FCNM and the effectiveness of the monitoring of its implementation. As such, the Issue Brief presents some central (though still preliminary) findings of the study that will be published in 2019.
Topic:
Treaties and Agreements, Multiculturalism, Minorities, Ethnicity, Identity, and Protected People
Political Geography:
Global Focus

3. Beyond the Limits of Multiculturalism : The Role of Europe's Traditional Minorities

Author:
Tove H. Malloy
Publication Date:
07-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
In the debate on multiculturalism in Europe, traditional minorities are often excluded even though their experience with diversity is longer than most. This is because the received wisdom in Europe seems to equate multiculturalism with immigration and lately mainly with Muslim communities. This is different in the Anglo world, and especially in the context of Canada and Australia, where traditional minorities and indigenous groups are considered a dimension of multiculturalism. However, traditional minorities have been part of the European fabric of cultures for centuries, and they have contributed to making multiculturalism work through a number of inter-cultural dialogue mechanisms. This Issue Brief will discuss the role of traditional minorities in multiculturalism, in particular in terms of institutional arrangements at different levels of government.
Topic:
Multiculturalism, Minorities, Ethnicity, Diversity, and Institutions
Political Geography:
Europe

4. Georgia and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Author:
Jonathan Wheatley
Publication Date:
06-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
Georgia is a multilingual and multi-ethnic society. A large number of minority languages are spoken in Georgia, including Abkhazian, Ossetian, Azeri, Armenian, Russian, Ukrainian, Kurmanji (Kurdish), Chechen (Kist), Ottoman Turkish, Pontic Greek, Syriac, Avar, Tsova-Tush and Udi. In addition, four distinct languages are spoken by the majority Georgian population -- Georgian, Megrelian, Svan and Laz -- although these are basically vernacular languages that are not normally written. According to Article 8 of the Georgian constitution, the official state language is Georgian, and in Abkhazia, also Abkhazian. Most minority languages are spoken only in certain regions of the country.
Topic:
Politics, Multiculturalism, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Russia, America, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, and Syria

5. Testing Macedonia

Author:
Farimah Daftary
Publication Date:
03-2001
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
The Macedonian state is being tested from all sides: by the NLA which is waging guerrilla warfare, by the ethnic Albanians who are presenting great demands, and by the international community which is exercising pressure on it to address ethnic Albanian grievances. But the Macedonian population, too, is being tested on its ability to resist provocation to engage in acts of inter-ethnic hatred; it must therefore demonstrate that the claim to being a model of peaceful inter-ethnic relations is well deserved. At the time of writing, a state of war has been averted. Furthermore, on 14 May, after lengthy negotiations, a new "government of national unity" faced its first day of work. The idea to form a broad coalition was set forth in March 2001 as a means of addressing the crisis with the participation of all political parties with representation in Parliament. However, there were many issues to be resolved between the two main (ethnic) Macedonian parties, the VMRO-DPMNE and the opposition Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM), especially over the issue of early elections and distribution of ministry seats. Negotiations with the PDP were also tough (the PDP was demanding a ceasefire against the NLA before joining the coalition but it was more probably weighing the losses in NLA-sympathiser votes that it might incur by joining the government). While the support of the ethnic Albanian community of Macedonia for the violent tactics of the NLA seems to be quite low still, all will depend on whether the politicians will manage to put personal interests aside and reach an agreement as to how to address their grievances. It would be dangerous on the part of the Macedonian government to underestimate the readiness of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia to take up arms. What is also needed, in addition to high-level political dialogue, is a broad civic debate at the intermediate and grassroots level. Already, many initiatives have been launched to establish roundtables on inter-ethnic relations involving political leaders, minority representatives, experts, civil society, etc. In order to create the right conditions for genuine dialogue, what is needed is a common civic framework for resolving the question of inter-ethnic relations. The MHC calls for a citizen's approach as well as adherence to multiculturalism rather than bi-culturalism which would allow for identification with more than one ethnicity. The urgency of such a broad dialogue on legislative reform, decentralisation and other issues is evident for what is at stake is stability as well as longterm prospects for majority-minority accommodation not only in Macedonia but also in the whole of Southeast Europe. It is unfortunate that violence was needed to place the issue of inter-ethnic relations at the top of the Macedonian political agenda
Topic:
Multiculturalism, Minorities, Ethnicity, Diversity, and Decentralization
Political Geography:
Europe and Macedonia

6. Language Policy in Multilingual Switzerland - Overview and Recent Developments

Author:
François Grin
Publication Date:
03-1999
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
Switzerland is often quoted as a success story for its handling of linguistic and cultural diversity. In this presentation, I will try to assess this success: to what extent is this reputation justified? What are the conditions that have resulted in this very particular way of dealing with diversity in a multilingual state? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the “Swiss model”? Since time and space are too limited to engage in a full-fledged historical, political, sociolinguistic and economic assessment of Swiss quadrilingualism, let alone in a comparative discussion, I will eschew the usual presentation of demo- and sociolinguistic data in favour of a more interpretative approach, with the aim to provide the reader with an analytical, rather than descriptive perspective on Swiss multilingualism today. Much relevant detail will have to be omitted, meaning that this text will concentrate on what I consider to be the essential dimensions of the problem. However, additional information (including an array of relevant figures) can be found in the references listed at the end of this paper. This paper is organised as follows. In Section 2, I review the historical foundations of Swiss multilingualism; the corresponding institutional arrangements are presented in Section 3; Section 4 is devoted to a discussion of the current challenges that Switzerland is confronted with in its handling of linguistic diversity.
Topic:
Multiculturalism, Minorities, Ethnicity, Diversity, and Language
Political Geography:
Europe and Switzerland