ЉУБЉАНСКЕ СМЕРНИЦЕ ЗА ИНТЕГРАЦИЈУ РАЗНОЛИКИХ ДРУШТАВА И ПОЛИТИЧКО ПРЕДСТАВЉАЊЕ НАЦИОНАЛНИХ МАЊИНА У СРБИЈИ
ТHE LJUBLJANA GUIDELINES ON INTEGRATION OF DIVERSE SOCIETIES AND THE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN SERBIA

Author(s): Ljubica Đorđević
Subject(s): Sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: The Ljubljana Guidelines; integration; national minorities; representation
Summary/Abstract: There are three aspects of political representation of national minorities addressed in the Ljubljana Guidelines: key importance of the effective participation of minorities in the public life for the integration of a society, implementation of affirmative measures targeting adequate representation of national minorities, and pluralistic and inclusive party systems. Assessed from these aspects the concept of political representation of national minorities in Serbia shows serious weaknesses, since it hampers effective participation of national minorities in political life and thus it complicates the integration. The whole concept is reduced to implementation of the natural threshold, which excludes small minorities from the political process, and fosters ethnic and political homogeneity, and in such ways limits political pluralism. Furthermore, the concept of decision-making in representative bodies rests predominantly on the majoritarian principle, with undeveloped instruments of deliberative democracy, and narrows the possibility for substantial representation of national minorities. At last, the main political actors accept the reality of parallel societies, do not foster interethnic interaction, and participate in perpetuation of the segregative multiculturalism. For all these reasons a redefi ned concept of political participation of national minorities in Serbia is needed, so it can meet the needs for integration of the pluralistic society.

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