Minorities – introduction to a broad field

Martin Klatt, PhD.Dept. of Border Region Studies, Sønderborg

Minorities – what’s that?

Different! Numerical Power relation Social integration Gender Sexual orientation ……

Why important?

Differentiation Discrimination Human rights Social cohesion

National, ethnic, ….?

Terms can be diffuse – discuss! Discuss why they exist at all!

French approach US approach

National minorities in Europe

Criterias for national minorities

Common origin, different from the majority Common language, different from the majority Myths about a common heritage, different from

the majority Different race Different religion Different culture Feeling of belonging to a certain territory

Subjective self-identification, common identity

A typology

Minorities with one kin-state Minorities with several kin-states Minorities without a kin-state Transnational minorities with/without a kin-state Minorities as local/regional majority Sub-state nations Borderland-minorities with neighboring kin-state

Minorities and the nation state

National minorities are in conflict with the ideal of the culturally and ethnically homogeneous nation state (even though the latter does not exist)

Revisionism – fears of secession Visibility – visible minorities (appearance,

symbols) illustrate the imperfectness of the national ideal

Otherness Financial issues

European development

Minorities become part of the 1. World War peace settlements, ”Right of National Self-Determination”

Interwar years: minorities as a cause for irredenta and revisionism of the peace settlement (Sudeten-crisis, Schleswig, South Tyrol)

But also: issues as cultural autonomy tested and implemented (i.e. Estonia, North Schleswig)

Post WW II

Human rights development European Convention on Human Rights (Council of

Europe, 1950) UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) Framework Convention on the Protection of National

Minorities EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Nice 2000)

The Cold War Germany and Denmark as allies CEE minorities integrated into Communist society (at

least officially) European integration

More open border Border revision becomes outdated

Minority conflicts in Europe

Balkans Hungary-Romania (Hungarians abroad in general) Ireland Basques, Catalans, Scots, Kurds (Sub-state

nations) Georgia, Caucasus Latvia and Estonia Sinti and Roma

Issues

- Border revisionism – secession- Social exclusion- Historical grievances, memories and traumas

Minorities in European integration

Direct context: Copenhagen criteria, Charter of Fundamental Rights

Indirect context More open borders “Europe of Regions” offers new opportunities for

substate nations Bi- and tri-linguality can be an asset in a common

market ‘Blurred’ minorities The use of violence to achieve secession has become

unfashionable (Ireland, Basque) Last not least: economic growth can lead to social

inclusion