Less equal than others: National minorities and the overlooked challenge of socio-economic inequalities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreea Cârstocea ◽  
◽  
Craig Willis
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Cultural Communities ◽  
Economic Inequalities

Socio-economic inequalities are part and parcel of people’s everyday life in any society; yet for people who belong to ethnic, linguistic, religious, or cultural communities, these inequalities tend to be markedly greater than for others. Quite often, national minority communities face higher hurdles in accessing employment and gaining incomes on a par with those of the majority, and have lower access to adequate healthcare services, housing, education, or public services in general. And yet, a conversation about the socio-economic inequalities facing minority communities, the specific challenges they face, or the ways in which their participation might be improved is largely absent.

scholarly journals The Rebuilding of “Greater Russia”: From Kievan Rus’ to the Eurasian Union (Note 1)

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. p22
Author(s):  
Roger E. Kanet
Keyword(s):  
Russian Population ◽  
Russian Government ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Integration Policies ◽  
Cultural Communities ◽  
Former Ussr ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of the present examination is 1) to summarize briefly the evolution of historical Russia as the amalgam of multiple ethnic and cultural communities into a growing imperial domain; 2) to outline more specifically the policies pursued by the tsarist and communist regimes to integrate minority communities into the Russian majority; 3) to examine the impact on Russia of the collapse of the former USSR; and 4) to trace current efforts by the Russian government to reintegrate the disparate parts of the former USSR, including especially regions of other post-Soviet states with a significant ethnic Russian population, into a new “Greater Russia.” Although it will touch on Soviet integration policies that targeted national minorities who, by 1989, represented half of the population, the focus will be on recent and current policies intended to “Greater Russia.”

“Serbs” in Bela krajina: a (deliberately) forgotten minority?

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-194
Author(s):  
Romana Bešter ◽  
Miran Komac ◽  
Mojca Medvešek ◽  
Janez Pirc
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Border Region ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Minority Protection ◽  
National Minorities

There are three constitutionally recognized national/ethnic minorities in Slovenia: the Italians, the Hungarians and the Roma. In addition, there are other ethnic groups that could perhaps be considered as “autochthonous” national minorities in line with Slovenia's understanding of this concept. Among them is a small community of “Serbs” – the successors of the Uskoks living in Bela krajina, a border region of Slovenia. In this article we present results of a field research that focused on the following question: Can the “Serb” community in Bela krajina be considered a national minority? On the basis of the objective facts, it could be said that the “Serbs” in four Bela krajina villages are a potential national minority, but with regard to their modest social vitality and the fact that they do not express their desire for minority status, the realization of special minority protection is questionable.

scholarly journals The number, status and organizational aspects of Serbs in Zagreb

Stanovnistvo ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-68
Author(s):  
Drago Zuparic-Iljic
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Ethnic Composition ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Socialist Republic ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Majority Population ◽  
The Status ◽  
Legislative Framework

This paper provides an overview of the basic characteristics regarding number, as well as normative and functional status, i.e. legal and institutional status of Serbs in Zagreb. Furthermore, the paper describes some distinctions among organizational levels of Serbian minority in Zagreb, concerning the most important aspects of socio-cultural, educational and religious integration. Serbian minority members? number in Croatia and Zagreb is analyzed using an official demographic statistics, focusing primarily on major socio-demographic indicators, on population density and ethnic composition data for the population of Zagreb municipality for the period of 1981-2011. Legal position of the Serbian minority in Zagreb is described using analysis of official documents, including legislative framework provisions, which are related to issues of national minorities? status and rights. Institutional and organizational status is elucidated by using descriptive analysis of cultural, educational, media and religious aspects of minority?s life. The number of Serbs in Croatia decreased drastically in last twenty years, affecting their number being reduced to approximately one-third of the prewar number. In the period 1981 to 2011 there was a continuous increase of number and proportion of Croatian majority population, and continuous reduction of national minorities in Zagreb. The biggest percentile decreasing in the municipality of Zagreb (during period 1991-2001) have undergone members of the Serbian (57.7%), Slovenian (48.9%), and Montenegrin (43.7%) minority. In the case of Serbs, this is primarily and predominantly a consequence of forced emigration (displacement) induced by the war in the 1990s. Moreover, negative demographic trends together with a possibility of ?false? national declaration in census, as well as the relentless process of assimilation are counted as specific factors in reducing the number of national minorities? members. Status of Serbs as the former "constituent people/ethnicity" in Socialist Republic of Croatia was modified in the status of "national minority" in (Democratic) Republic of Croatia, due to constitutional changes in 1990. Today, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities in 2002 national minorities in Croatia enjoy the rights in the area of cultural (linguistic, educational and religious) autonomy. Implementation of these rights still faces many problems in everyday praxis, which is reflected in organizational aspects and levels of Serbs in Zagreb. Cultural, artistic, and educational associations and initiatives among Serbian minority organize activities that contribute to promotion, preservation and expressing specific national minority?s identity. Although satisfactory level of normative (legal) integration does not guarantee functional integration of minorities into wider socio-economic, cultural and political matrix, that normative integration, along with political will and favorable social climate, sets an essential precondition for the willingness to implement laws and regulations in order to improve Serbian minority status.

scholarly journals Próba kognitywnego ujęcia mądrości (na materiale przysłów polskich i litewskich)

Adeptus ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 53-63
Author(s):  
Monika Bogdzevič
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Cultural Images ◽  
Wise Person ◽  
The World ◽  
Cultural Communities ◽  
The Way

The concept of wisdom in Polish and Lithuanian paremiologyIn this paper, an attempt has been made to present the semantic and axiological substance of wisdom hidden in the consciousnesses of two different, namely Polish and Lithuanian, linguistic-cultural communities. The analysis belongs to a branch of linguistics, interpreting language in terms of concepts, viewing it as a source of knowledge about people themselves, different communities, their mentality, ways of perception and interpretations of the way the world is. As a model to present the most thorough understanding of wisdom, the method of cognitive definition proposed by Jerzy Bartmiński is applied. Linguistic-cultural images of wise [person], understood as the concretizations of wisdom have to reveal him/her in opposition to stupid. The cognitive picture of wise is for the most part based on the analysis of features of character and appearance, portrayed behavior, interpersonal relations and the way others have as a perception of wise. Many cognitive parameters of wisdom are revealed while exploring the interactions between people and that of nature (plants, animals) which surrounds them and investigating deeper interpersonal relations with other people. The material for research was taken from Polish and Lithuanian proverbs. The latter occur as a result of world perception, everyday life observation, confrontations with its phenomenon. The proverbs are taken from compendiums of Polish and Lithuanian proverbs: Nowa księga przysłów i wyrażeń przysłowiowych (The New Book of Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases) by Julian Krzyżanowski and Lietuvių patarlės (Lithuanian Proverbs), Patarlių paralelės (Parallels of Proverbs) by Kazys Grigas. Given as cognitive definitions the cultural visions of wise, despite all the emphasized differences, enable us to perceive many evaluations of wise similar or even common to Polish and Lithuanian cultures. Próba kognitywnego ujęcia mądrości (na materiale przysłów polskich i litewskich)Zamierzeniem artykułu jest próba przedstawienia semantycznej i aksjologicznej treści pojęcia mądrości tkwiącej w świadomości dwóch odrębnych wspólnot językowo-kulturowych – polskiej i litewskiej. Przeprowadzona analiza mieści się w nurcie badań językoznawczych, traktujących język jako źródło wiedzy o człowieku, jego mentalności i systemie wartości, sposobie postrzegania i interpretacji świata. Narzędziem opisu jest zaproponowana przez Jerzego Bartmińskiego metoda definicji kognitywnej. Językowo-kulturowe obrazy człowieka mądrego, stanowiąceukonkretnioną wizję abstrakcyjnego pojęcia mądrości, przedstawiają go w opozycji do człowieka głupiego. Obraz człowieka mądrego obejmuje cechy jego charakteru oraz wyglądu, mechanizmów zachowań, charakterystycznych miejsc przebywania oraz uwidacznia związek z zajmowaną przez niego pozycją społeczną. Wiele parametrów kognitywnych mądrości ujawnia się w trakcie analizy różnorodnych relacji człowieka z otaczającą go przyrodą (roślinami, zwierzętami) oraz wynika z bardziej skomplikowanych układów – ze stosunków z innymi ludźmi. Materiał analityczny stanowiły paremia polskie i litewskie, traktowane jako rezultat poznawania świata, obserwacji życia codziennego, zderzenia z różnymi jego zjawiskami. W badaniach wykorzystane zostały kompendia przysłów polskich i litewskich: Nowa księga przysłów i wyrażeń przysłowiowych pod red. Juliana Krzyżanowskiego oraz Lietuvių patarlės (Przysłowia litewskie), Patarlių paralelės (Paralele przysłów) pod red. Kazysa Grigasa. Ujęte w strukturę definicji kognitywnych kulturowe wizje człowieka mądrego, mimo istniejących różnic, pozwalają wyodrębnić sporo wartościowań podobnych albo nawet wspólnych, charakterystycznych dla kultur polskiej i litewskiej.

scholarly journals CHARACTER BUILDING BASED ON LOCAL WISDOM IN THE FILM TITLED TANDA TANYA “?”

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
Nur Alfi Farikhah ◽  
Ratna Handayani Pramukti ◽  
Vena Nur Litasari ◽  
Ratna Hidayah
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Educational Purpose ◽  
Global Era ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Cultural Communities ◽  
Character Building

<p><em>Character is very important in an effort to reflect cultural values that are applied through a culture of positive habits in everyday life such as honesty, trust, tolerance and caring for fellow human beings in the community. The value of local wisdom is not a barrier to progress in the global era, but still maintains cultural values that have been embedded in the surrounding community. Therefore, fostering the values of local wisdom is a strategic step in the effort to build the character of the nation. This article proposes to discuss the cultivation of cultural values through a tolerance attitude based on local wisdom in the surrounding environment as a community character reinforcement being appropriate to the cultural values which are inspired by the film titled Tanda Tanya “?”. The film describes the life that has been acculturated, then shows the assimilation and pluralism that exist in the lives of people in Indonesia. This film has educational purpose containing knowledge and learning that occur around the lives of diverse cultural communities.</em></p>

On the Intrinsic Value of Arabic in Israel—Challenging Kymlicka on Language Rights

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meital Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
General Question ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Minority Languages ◽  
Language Rights ◽  
Linguistic Minorities ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Intrinsic Interest ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Israeli Arabs

In the postcolonial era, we have witnessed waves of mass immigration. Consequently, many states are no longer associated with just one or two national languages. Newly formed immigrant minorities raise demands for language rights, alongside national minorities, which raise similar demands.Such a complex situation exists, for example, in Canada, where only French and English are declared official languages although there are other languages, such as Chinese, which are spoken by large communities of people. My paper addresses the general question of which linguistic minorities are most entitled to comprehensive language rights. Will Kymlicka distinguishes between national minorities, which he regards as deserving of comprehensive language rights, and immigrant minorities which are not. Many scholars challenge Kymlicka’s distinction. However, none of them have suggested alternative criteria for distinguishing minority languages that are entitled to protection from minority languages that are less entitled to protection. In my paper, I suggest such a criterion. My alternative criterion is based on the intrinsic interest people have in protecting their own language as the marker of their cultural identity, thus, comprehensive language rights are to be accorded to linguistic minorities that possess the strongest intrinsic interest in the protection of their language as their marker of cultural identity. I apply my criterion to the Israeli case, in which there are two dominant linguistic minorities: the Arab national minority and the Jewish Russian immigrant minority. Relying on general criticism of Kymlicka’s distinction, I argue that this distinction is not applicable to the Israeli linguistic case. Applying my alternative criterion to the Israeli case, I argue that Israeli Arabs have a stronger interest in Arabic than the Russian Jewish minority has in Russian because Arabic constitutes Israeli Arabs’ exclusive marker of identity.

A Further Minor Step—Minority-Related (D)eve(lopme)nts within the European Institutions throughout 2014

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 300-318
Author(s):  
Kinga Gál ◽  
Kata Eplényi
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
National Minority ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Languages ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
Regional Language ◽  
European Institutions ◽  
First Results

This article covers those minority-related developments, important events and “missing” steps of the eu Institutions, especially the ep and the European Commission, throughout the year of 2014 that relate to traditional national minorities, regional language groups, and national communities. The year 2014 cannot be separated from 2013, thus the study covers one and a half years and analyses—among others—issues such as the first results of the European Citizens Initiative, the adopted resolution on endangered European languages and linguistic diversity in the European Union, the successful re-establishment of the “Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages” and the challenges the European Commission faces in this field. The study provides an analytical evaluation of this period. Throughout 2013 and 2014 a few minor steps forward were made within the European institutions on the field related to national minority protection; however, none of these should be over- or underestimated.

3 Minority Identities in the Middle East: Ethno-national and Other Minorities

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Castellino Joshua ◽  
Cavanaugh Kathleen A
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
Economic Decision ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Israeli Arabs ◽  
Religion And Ethnicity

Although religion and ethnicity are the primary categories under which we examine minority communities, this chapter adds three additional categories: majoritarian minorities, political minorities, and trapped minorities. Majoritarian majorities are those who are numerically larger but excluded from sites of power, e.g. the Shi?a in Bahrain. Relative size distinguishes what we refer to as political minorities. Like ‘majoritarian’ groups, political minorities are excluded from power but are also a minority in terms of relative numbers; these include Shi?a in Saudi Arabia and Sunnis in Iran. ‘Trapped’ minorities, distinct from ethno-national minorities, are defined as a segment from a larger group spread across two or more states and marginalized, or as we discuss in the case of Palestinian-Israelis, doubly marginalized, subject to hegemonic control by others within these states and, as such, excluded from access to sociopolitical and economic decision-making institutions. In addition to Israeli Arabs, we include Palestinians, Baluchis, and Kurds in this category.

National Minority Problems in Romania: Continuity or Change?

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81
Author(s):  
Stephen Fischer-Galati
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
World War I ◽  
Interwar Period ◽  
Body Politic ◽  
Russian Empire ◽  
National Minority ◽  
World War ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The Russian Empire

The national minorities question in Romania has been one of crises and polemics. This is due, in part, to the fact that Greater Romania, established at the end of World War I, brought the Old Romanian Kingdom into a body politic (a kingdom itself relatively free of minority problems), with territories inhabited largely by national minorities. Thus, the population of Transylvania and the Banat, both of which had been constituent provinces of the defunct Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, included large numbers of Hungarians and Germans, while Bessarabia, a province of the Russian empire, included large numbers of Jews. While the Hungarian (Szeklers and Magyars), Germans (Saxons and Swabians), and Jewish minorities were the largest and most difficult to integrate into Greater Romania, other sizeable national minorities such as the Bulgarians, Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Serbians, Turks, and Gypsies also posed problems to the rulers of Greater Romania during the interwar period and, in some cases, even after World War II.

Contribution of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and its Advisory Committee to the Effective Participation Rights of National Minorities

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Advisory Committee ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
The Past ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
High Commissioner

This article presents a personal view on the contribution of the Framework Convention to the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities. It demonstrates the participatory rights of national minorities that have been safeguarded drawing on the practical experience of monitoring the Framework Convention between 1999 and 2007 and the recent Commentary on Article 15 of the Framework Convention. It covers participation in economic and social life, in public affairs, in the implementation and monitoring of the Framework Convention itself, participation in inter governmental organisations and within minority communities themselves. The article explores some of the outstanding participatory issues and identifies possible remedies. The conclusions emphasise the past synergies and possible future cooperation between the Advisory Committee and the High Commissioner on National Minorities on this issue.

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