THE VANISHING OF MULTICULTURALISM IS RUINING THE PILLARS ON WHICH THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS BEEN BUILT UP
THE VANISHING OF MULTICULTURALISM IS RUINING THE PILLARS ON WHICH THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS BEEN BUILT UP

Author(s): Silvo Devetak
Subject(s): History of European Union, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, EU-Legislation
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: European Union; unity in diversity; xenophobia; racism; intolerance; Islam; ethnic minorities; Roma; anti-Judaism; migration
Summary/Abstract: European integration is an economic, social, political (and sociological) process interwoven with elements that emanate from the cultural, racial, ethnic, linguistic, religious and regional diversity of Europe. The efficiency of economic and political action, both on the level of the European Union (EU) and national levels, is thus interdependent with the stability of inter-ethnic, inter-racial, inter-religious and centre–region relations within the Community, as well as in each of the Member States. After noticing the main achievements of the EU after the dissolution of the Cold War in Europe, the author comes to the conclusion that the growing trends of xenophobia, discrimination and violence are present in Europe. He puts forward five outstanding social, political and security problems within the EU: 1) uncontrolled Islamophobia, 2) immigration phobia, 3) the omnipresent Roma-phobia, 4) disguised (due to historical reasons) anti-Semitism and 5) “traditional” intolerance toward ethnic and religious minorities. There is an urgent need for reconsidering the implementation of the EU’s basic principle of “unity in diversity”. An inter-related and coordinated program of actions of all pertinent European social and political factors and especially of governments is needed. The EU structure has limited possibilities; the main responsibilities are in the hands of governments. The spreading of negative political environment within the EU countries is not an encouraging factor for the future.

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