Europeanisation and National Minorities in Central and Eastern Europe –Impact and Themes

Abstract

This panel will discuss the impact of Europeanisation on national minority issues in Central and Eastern Europe, and the themes of this an impact, both in general terms and in individual cases. The underlying perspective is that the norms of underlying this influence are often contested, although they are not always presented as such. Europeanisation will here be defined as the emerging European regime on national minorities and ethnic conflict founded on the activities of European organisations such as the EU, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and NATO. These activities include the recommendations and conditionalities addressed to the countries and other parties involved in these issues as well as more direct involvement in the shape of projects, financial support etc. The intention is to discuss whether, under which circumstances and why the attempts of these organisations to influence national minority policies of post-Communist states have succeeded, as well as whether specific themes are emerging in these policies, and if so, which? Such themes include issues from more general debates about nationalism and multi-ethnic societies, such as the avocation of civic over ethnic national identities or minority rights. Furthermore, developments over time and differences between the different organisations will also be discussed. Concerning the impact, the aim is to cover issues such as to which degree the compliance with European rules is due to material incentives or the desire to be seen as having an European identity, but also to move beyond this debate and discuss what this has meant in concrete cases and how this impact can be seen in normative terms. The cases covered will include the Muslim minority in Greece, the Serbian and other minorities in Croatia, the Hungarian minorities in Romania and Slovakia, and other national minorities in the Visegrad countries. Theoretically, both constructivist and rationalist approaches will be used, as well as discussed and compared. The selection should give plenty of opportunity for debate as well as useful feedback on the presented projects and understanding of other perspectives and cases.

Title	Details
Towards a European Norm? The Framing of the Hungarian Minorities in Romania and Slovakia by the Council of Europe, the EU and the OSCE	View Paper Details
‘Europeanization’ in Greece: Human Rights Standards and Security Concern. The Case of the ‘Muslim’ Minority in Western Thrace	View Paper Details
International solutions or domestic answers. The minority policies' formulation in the Central Europe	View Paper Details
Contested rights – constructed identities: The changing discourse on minority rights in Croatia	View Paper Details