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Begin New Search Topic Minorities Content Type Working Paper Publishing Institution European Centre for Minority Issues Publication Year within 25 Years

1. Non-territorial indigenous self-governance in Canada and the United States

Author:
Raphaëlle Mathieu-Bédard
Publication Date:
04-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
Indigenous peoples and minorities throughout the world have endeavoured for centuries to rid themselves from colonialism and oppression, while governments struggle to recognize indigenous and minority rights and minorities’ rightful standing in society. Varied approaches have been adopted, with varying degrees of success – but much can be learned from past and current victories and mistakes. Both in Canada and in the United States, the federal governments have historically held exclusive and virtually unlimited authority over their indigenous populations. Yet, based on divergent interpretations of the ‘doctrine of discovery’, the two countries have long developed differing policies regarding the self-government of their indigenous[i] nations, inevitably influencing their respective indigenous self-determination movements and the emergence of indigenous, non-territorial institutions.
Topic:
Minorities and International Development
Political Geography:
America and Canada

2. Roma Participation in Mainstream Swedish and German Newspaper Discourse

Author:
Caitlin Boulter
Publication Date:
12-2016
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
This paper examines the prevalence of Roma voices in Swedish and German newspaper articles. It explores the importance of discursive self-representation for minority and marginalised groups, and evaluates the degree to which a voice is afforded to the Roma in three of the largest newspapers in each country, across a varied political spectrum. Sweden and Germany are leaders in minority protection and both profess to be seeking solutions to the widespread discrimination against Roma within their own countries and across Europe, and therefore provide interesting comparative case studies, both due to their historical relationship with Roma communities and in light of contemporary events. This paper uses quantitative analysis to determine the percentage of newspaper articles about Roma that include a Roma voice, and the findings are analysed using theories regarding European identity-building, Orientalism, and media discourse.
Topic:
International Affairs and Minorities
Political Geography:
Germany and Sweden

3. Ethnic Minority Women in Georgia - Facing a Double Burden?

Author:
Andrea Peinhopf
Publication Date:
02-2014
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
In this paper I explore the situation of ethnic minority women in Georgia, focusing on gender -based violence, economic empowerment and political participation. Importantly these are not distinct topics, but interrelated phenomena: domestic decision-making structures and violence are the main obstacles to increased female participation in the political and economic spheres. Conversely, women's second-rate role here has diminished their ability to become financially independent and publicly recognized, which could strengthen their domestic position. Over the past years the Georgian government has introduced several legal measures directed at alleviating some of the problems Georgian women encounter and strengthening their position in society, including the National Action Plan on Gender Equality (2011-2013), the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2012-2015), as well as action plans on domestic violence (2011-2012), and trafficking in human beings (2011-2012). However, according to the UN Gender Thematic Group, consisting of domestic and international organizations with a gender focus, implementation of the national action plans has been uneven, with the National Action Plan on Gender Equality significantly lagging behind.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Human Rights, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe and Georgia

4. Roma Inclusion: A Feasible EU Project

Author:
Zora Popova
Publication Date:
03-2014
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
Dispersed all over the territory of the continent, Roma constitute the largest ethnic minority in Europe, which according to the estimates consists of 10-12 million people. Present in almost every country in Europe and sharing some similar cultural features, Roma are often referred to as 'transnational'. The heterogeneity of the group even within the different national states and the lack of structural ties among the communities at national and international levels, challenges the appropriateness of any generalization of issues and large scale approaches to addressing them. At the same time, Roma communities all over Europe share low social status and identical challenges to their integration in mainstream societies, which constitutes them as a transnational marginalised group.
Topic:
Globalization, Human Rights, Regional Cooperation, Governance, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe and Romania

5. Challenges facing Researchers on Roma Minorities in contemporary Europe: Notes towards a Research Program

Author:
Aidan McGarry and Annabel Tremlett
Publication Date:
01-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
European institutions are now developing two new initiatives that are significant in their scope and outlook. First, a common 'EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies' is underway for 2020, aimed at creating a set of common policy aims and outcomes for all member states. This Framework is attempting to place the responsibility for Roma integration in the hands of member state governments, who have been hitherto unwilling or unable to address the socio-economic and political disadvantage of Roma. Second, the Council of Europe and the EU (in a joint action) have established a new; 'European Academic Network on Romani Studies' (2011-2013), recognizing the importance of quality research in understanding the complexities of such historically disadvantaged and heterogeneous communities. These initiatives provide the opportunity to draw on our experiences as researchers in this field and highlight the gaps in our knowledge along with methodological and theoretical caveats and challenges that still need to be addressed.
Topic:
Human Rights, International Law, Socialism/Marxism, Governance, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe

6. The Dual Consequences of Politicization of Ethnicity in Romania

Author:
Monica Andriescu and Sergiu Gherghina
Publication Date:
02-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The processes of nation and state formation have been challenged in specific ways by the transitions in post-Communist Europe. The number of ethnic minorities, their territorial concentration and strength generated situations in which either state division was imminent (e.g. former Yugoslavia) or secession threats were latent. Many political actors transformed these situations into (personal or own group) advantages. Among the new democracies in which ethnicity could be considered a relevant societal division, Romania is an appealing case due to its developments over time. The violent clashes between the majority population and the Hungarian minority in 1990, in the aftermath of regime change, appeared to set the pace of the inter-ethnic relations after the regime change. In this context, the politicization of ethnicity to spawn national and ethnic solidarity in Romania was the logical consequence. How did this process influence the evolution of inter-ethnic relations in post-communist Romania?
Topic:
Human Rights, Governance, Law, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe and Romania

7. Promoting Minority Rights through Education

Author:
Zora Popova
Publication Date:
05-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) was adopted in 2010 and signed by 47 member states. The endorsement of the Charter was recognized as a major achievement of almost 10 years of developing ideas and strategies, public and political debates, intensified discussions among institutions and stakeholders, international consultations, policy provisions and decision implementation.
Topic:
Education, Human Rights, Law, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe

8. Paternalistic versus participation oriented minority institutions in the Danish-German border region

Author:
Adrian Schaefer-Rolffs and Kai-Uwe Schnapp
Publication Date:
05-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
Democracy can, according to Robert Dahl, be understood as a political system in which those affected by a decision have a proper chance to take part in making this decision. Although it is accepted by political theorists as well as many men and women on the street, this norm is not easily implemented in all situations. One situation in which implementation might not be as straightforward is the proper political participation of any kind of minority, be it national, ethnic, religious, cultural or otherwise. This question of minority political participation has grown in importance in Europe over the last decades. This is the case, because European nations are beset by a total of more than 300 national and ethnic minority groups with over 100 million members. Awareness and appreciation of this fact has massively increased recently in terms of politics as well as with regard to discussion in the social sciences. While there are at least some explicit perceptions of the institutional quality of participatory rights and facilities across Europe, there is almost no empirical account of the role and the perception of political rights and/or institutions that foster minority political participation.
Topic:
Governance, Law, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe, Germany, and Denmark

9. Minority Participation in Kosovo Elections : Opportunities and Challenges

Author:
Zora Popova
Publication Date:
06-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
Voting is a fundamental democratic right that empowers people to exercise their civil control over the politics and politicians, over the different branches of power, over the development paths of their countries. Democratic electoral systems in Europe vary greatly. But the electoral systems alone, although contributing to the specific architectures of the national democracies, are not the only factors that determine the quality of the democracy in place. Focused on legislation, rules and procedures, policy analysts sometimes tend to look at voters as "beneficiaries" and not as the active subjects who in fact have the power to change the status quo or to contribute to deformities of the political system in place, by not exercising their political and civil rights.
Topic:
Democratization, Human Rights, Governance, Law, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe

10. Minorities, Media and Intercultural Dialogue

Author:
Sabrina Colombo, Federica Prina, Alkistis Zavakou, and Fulvia Ghirardi
Publication Date:
11-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
References to 'intercultural dialogue' are not uncommon in international documents. In particular, Article 6(1) of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (hereinafter FCNM) reads: The Parties shall encourage a spirit of tolerance and intercultural dialogue and take effective measures to promote mutual respect and understanding and co - operation among all persons living on their territory, irrespective of those persons' ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious identity, in particular in the fields of education, culture and the media.
Topic:
Regional Cooperation, Mass Media, and Minorities
Political Geography:
Europe