“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”: The European Union, Eastern Europe and Minority Rights Cover Image
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“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”: The European Union, Eastern Europe and Minority Rights
“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”: The European Union, Eastern Europe and Minority Rights

Author(s): Michael Johns
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Sociology of Politics, EU-Legislation
Published by: SAGE Publications Ltd
Keywords: European Union; OSCE; minority issues; Estonia; Latvia; Slovakia; Germany; Italy;

Summary/Abstract: This article tests the assumption that the European Union has forced the potential new members from Eastern Europe to adhere to standards regarding the treatment of national minorities current member states do not meet. The article examines the treatment of the Russian minorities in Latvia and Estonia and the Roma population in Slovakia compared to the treatment of the Turks in Germanyand the Roma in Italy. Using EU accession reports, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) recommendations, and the Minorities at Risk data set, a double standard becomes apparent. The newly democratized states of Eastern Europe are being forced to choose between the economic advantages of membership in the EU and legislation designed to protect the language and culture of the majoritygroup. The article concludes with an examination of the histories of Estonia and Latvia to illustrate whybeing forced into altering laws concerning culture and citizenship is so difficult.

  • Issue Year: 17/2003
  • Issue No: 04
  • Page Range: 682-699
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: English