Multiculturalism in Public Policies
Multiculturalism in Public Policies
Contributor(s): Goran Bašić (Editor), Mitja Žagar (Editor), Siniša Tatalović (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Governance, Public Administration, Sociology, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: National minorities; Southeast Europe; Multiculturalism
Summary/Abstract: The Academic Network for Research Support in Southeast Europe was based on the ideas and activities developed and fostered through the research of multiculturality and ethnicity by researchers in several university centres in the region – the Institute for Ethnic Studies in Ljubljana, the Centre for International and Security Studies at the Faculty of Political Science in Zagreb, and the Centre for Ethnicity Research in Belgrade.
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-86-7093-203-6
- Page Count: 213
- Publication Year: 2018
- Language: English
Diversities, Multiculturalism, Inter-Culturalism and Diversity Management in Southeast Europe
Diversities, Multiculturalism, Inter-Culturalism and Diversity Management in Southeast Europe
(Diversities, Multiculturalism, Inter-Culturalism and Diversity Management in Southeast Europe)
- Author(s):Mitja Žagar
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:9-35
- No. of Pages:27
- Keywords:Southeast Europe; the Balkans; multiculturalism; inter-culturalism; diversity management
- Summary/Abstract:The chapter discusses concepts, definitions and maps of geographic and political regions, specifically Southeast Europe, The Balkans and Western Balkans. It shows that concepts and definitions of regions, as well as mental and geographic maps are not value and ideology neutral, but rather products of times, environments and circumstances, including values, ideologies and balance of power that influenced their authors. I present multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious composition and nature of regions as, well as of individual countries that determine the social framework in which different approaches to, as well as concepts, ideologies, strategies and policies of multiculturalism and inter-culturalism are developed and applied. Ideologies, strategies and policies of multiculturalism and inter-culturalism are analysed as segments of successful diversity management, particularly of effective strategies of regulation and management of socially relevant diversities in plural and diverse contemporary societies.
Security Policies, Practices and Narratives on Migration in the Countries on the Balkan Route
Security Policies, Practices and Narratives on Migration in the Countries on the Balkan Route
(Security Policies, Practices and Narratives on Migration in the Countries on the Balkan Route)
- Author(s):Ružica Jakešević
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Sociology, Migration Studies, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
- Page Range:37-61
- No. of Pages:25
- Keywords:migration; securitisation; European migration crisis; Balkan Route countries; security policy
- Summary/Abstract:Some of the recent and current practices and narratives in the European security environment point to the very strong trend of securitization and in some instances the most appropriate term would be ‘criminalisation’ of migration and migrants. Such trends were exacerbated by the mass movement of forced migrants mostly from the Middle East towards Europe, which was termed as the ‘European migration crisis of 2015/2016’. This crisis gave impetus to some negative developments at domestic, bilateral and European level, since there is still a lack of consensus between EU member states and European countries generally on the appropriate migration policies and on the nature of the current migration towards Europe. Such trends can be observed in different countries which make up the so-called Balkan Route, which stretches through the territory of six countries between Turkey and Austria/Germany. The mass inflow of migrants though this route was almost completely stopped in March 2016 after the EU-Turkey deal had been achieved. However, due to the rising tensions between the EU, especially some member states such as the Netherlands and Germany, and Turkey, there is an increasing concern that this route might be re-opened. This has motivated some changes in different countries which point out to increasingly security-oriented approach to migration, with the strong emphasis on prevention, effective border controls, push-backs, restrictive asylum policies and militarisation of usual police functions.
Policy of Multiculturalism in Serbia: Between Legal Confusion and Social Segregation
Policy of Multiculturalism in Serbia: Between Legal Confusion and Social Segregation
(Policy of Multiculturalism in Serbia: Between Legal Confusion and Social Segregation)
- Author(s):Goran Bašić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:63-95
- No. of Pages:33
- Keywords:Serbia; multiculturalism; public policies; ethnocultural groups
- Summary/Abstract:The paper which was developed at the Institute of Social Sciences within the research made for the project entitled “Social Transformations in the Process of European Integrations – Multidisciplinary Approach” provides a critical overview of the policy of multiculturalism in the Republic of Serbia. Constitutional solutions and legislation which regulate the status of national minorities do not correspond to the country’s multiethnic nature. In consequence, Serbia is reduced to a state in which the policy of multiculturalism is replaced with the policy of the state consensus with monocultural groups pertaining to the protection of their vital interests. Such political constellation befits only the most numerous, as well as territorially and politically homogeneous national minorities with clearly defined negotiating positions.
In Search of Multicultural Elements of the Croatian Minority Policy: Threatening Assimilation and Cultural Segregation
In Search of Multicultural Elements of the Croatian Minority Policy: Threatening Assimilation and Cultural Segregation
(In Search of Multicultural Elements of the Croatian Minority Policy: Threatening Assimilation and Cultural Segregation)
- Author(s):Antonija Petričušić, Siniša Tatalović
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Politics and Identity
- Page Range:97-127
- No. of Pages:31
- Keywords:national minorities; group-differentiated rights; Croatian minority policy; cultural autonomy of national minorities; participation of national minorities in public life
- Summary/Abstract:This chapter examines multicultural elements of the Croatian minority policy, arguing that minority policy that acknowledges the postulates of multiculturalism should result in effective equality and integration of national minority members in the society and should not result in segregation and/or assimilation. The chapter furthermore assesses if minority rights laws and minority policy result not only in the preservation and protection of minority cultures, but also if they result in tolerance and acceptance of national minority members by the wider society. In doing so, this chapter critically examines six segments of the minority policy: (i) right to education of national minorities in minority languages and scripts, (ii) linguistic rights, (iii) media rights, (iv) political participation of national minorities in the parliament and in local and regional self-government units, (v) consultative role of national minority councils in decision making at the regional and local levels of governance, and (vi) representation of national minorities in the public sector.
Multiculturalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Multiculturalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Multiculturalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Author(s):Mirza Smajić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Politics and Identity, Identity of Collectives
- Page Range:129-149
- No. of Pages:21
- Keywords:Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dayton Peace Agreement; political elites; multiculturalism; unconsolidated democracy
- Summary/Abstract:In this text, the author starts from the view that the post-Dayton period of the construction of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been characterized by certain social and political specificities originating in the state and legal structure established by the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such ambiance ultimately produced certain antagonistic counter-norms and polarities in public and political spheres and discourses, reflecting on the elements, factors and processes of democratization and the implementation of democratic principles and procedures in the daily life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The final result of such processes has led to ethnicization of political, legal, public and every other area, and the creation of a framework and conditions for the maintenance of the political and social status quo on one side, with widespread and systematic discrimination and violation of basic human rights and freedoms of certain social groups on the other. In this context, author confirms the premise that the ruling political elite, using the ethnocratic mechanisms of creating and maintaining authorities, create an apparent impossibility of building a contemporary Bosnian identity, valuing everyday life through certain counter-polarities, i.e. the matrices of “our” and “their” existence, simultaneously resenting diversity and difference. In such conditions and environment, social reality was not marked by the existence of civic-cultural determinants, i.e. multiculturalism in its original sense, but rather the existence of collective and individual frustrations that represent fertile ground for political, social, economic, cultural and all other manipulations of the broad layers of the population belonging to various ethno-confessional provenances, thus creating the state of the absence of conflict, rather than the stable peace. The twenty-two years of experience since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords has shown Bosnia and Herzegovina to encounter serious problems in securing minority rights, as well as human rights in general, and these problems mainly amounted to discrimination of citizens by slowing down all elements of the process of democratization and the application of democratic principles and procedures in the public sphere.
Multiculturalism Policy in Montenegro
Multiculturalism Policy in Montenegro
(Multiculturalism Policy in Montenegro)
- Author(s):Danijela Vuković-Ćalasan
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Politics and Identity
- Page Range:151-181
- No. of Pages:31
- Keywords:multiculturalism; ethno-cultural communities; Montenegro; political participation
- Summary/Abstract:The political identity of Montenegro is grounded in civic identity, which, in its conceptual form, implies cultural and ethnic neutrality. However, as a result of the need to recognise the importance of preserving the multi-ethnic character of the country and of enabling ethno-cultural communities to preserve their identity, the country is implementing measures and mechanisms of the multiculturalism model. The current normative and institutional provisions are at a satisfactory level, although there are significant limitations in relation to certain ethno- cultural communities. The implementation of existing measures in various forms of integration of ethno-national and ethno-cultural communities is the greatest challenge in this context. This is particularly the case in terms of political participation and political representation of minority peoples and other national minority communities. This paper presents an analysis of the principal aspects of the multiculturalism policy in Montenegro, and the critical issues in the process of its implementation.
Macedonian Salad: Managing Virtual Reality among the Imaging of the Nation-State, Dreaming Multiculturalism and Developing Bi-Cultural Policies
Macedonian Salad: Managing Virtual Reality among the Imaging of the Nation-State, Dreaming Multiculturalism and Developing Bi-Cultural Policies
(Macedonian Salad: Managing Virtual Reality among the Imaging of the Nation-State, Dreaming Multiculturalism and Developing Bi-Cultural Policies)
- Author(s):Rubin Zemon
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Politics and Identity
- Page Range:183-210
- No. of Pages:29
- Keywords:Macedonia; multiculturalism; communities; divided society
- Summary/Abstract:Although the statements by politicians in Macedonia, especially those intended for international public, are dominated by the declaration that Macedonia is a multicultural society and country, many an item related to the Macedonian multicultural model remains obscure, incomplete and dysfunctional in the context of state policy and strategy. Several debates, forums, and discussions on multiculturalism in the non-governmental sector and the media, apart from establishing some fundamental knowledge, also introduced confusion when it comes to multiculturalism, while also failing to usher in a more comprehensive treatment and purposeful application of multiculturalism as a social model. Despite of the rich tradition of Macedonia as a diverse and tolerant society, the political and cultural elites perceive multiculturalism as a ‘necessary evil’, rather than the basis for equity which would shape the country’s future within the globalization flows and present global trends. Lately, and especially after the conflict in 2001, intellectuals and other public actors increasingly voice the opinion that, under the guise of multiculturalism, Macedonia in fact develops into a society which is bi-ethnic, bi-cultural, as well as bi-polar.
