Projects / Programmes
Minority protection and rights as factors of integration and diversity management: Case and comparative studies of countries of Central and South Eastern Europe
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.05.00 |
Social sciences |
Law |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S110 |
Social sciences |
Juridical sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.05 |
Social Sciences |
Law |
minorities, national minorities, ethnic minorities, minority rights, minority protection, human rights; inclusion, integration, diversity, ethnic diversity, diversity management; prevention, management and resolution of crisis and conflict; governance, democracy, participation
Researchers (9)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
This basic research project studies problems of diversity management and governance in plural and (internally) diverse societies, such as the Slovene, whereby it focuses on a specific segment of diversity management and governance which is usually defined as ethnic diversity (sometimes also as ethnic plurality), and within the latter on minority protection. The significance of diversity management is increasingly stressed in documents of different institutions at the national as well as international level, and as a quickly developing new interdisciplinary field it is also gaining attention of the scientific sphere. The developing integral concept of diversity management and governance includes all phenomena and dimensions of social (or socially relevant) diversity (e. g. political, economic, social, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, religious, gender, age etc.) existing in contemporary societies, and thus reaches to practically all spheres of life. For this reason it is of interest for the practically entire field of social sciences and humanities, while its issues of the (legal and generally social) diversity management are specifically important for law, the disciplines of which (mainly public and civil law) have a tradition of dealing with specific fields and issues of diversity segmentally. Special attention is dedicated to issues of minority rights and protection, focussing on national minorities, and geographically on the states of Central and Southeastern Europe. Minority protection and rights are of key importance for the holistic/integral and successful diversity management and governance in plural and internally diverse societies, while at the same time being a criterion for the democratic character (democracy) of these societies, which is also emphasized by the political (Copenhagen) criteria for EU membership which, apart from the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and human rights, also state »the respect and protection of minorities«.
The project starts with the analysis of historic development and current situation of the regulation of minority rights and protection in international (public), European and national law, particularly in constitutions and legislation. Such research requires in addition to case studies also the utilization of comparative approaches and methods. Topics are studied from traditional as well as from new perspectives. Consequently, the project combines different legal disciplines and fields (e.g., European international, constitutional and constitutional comparative, administrative, public and civil law, including some segments of commercial, corporate and competition law) as well as approaches, methodologies and concepts developed in other disciplines of social sciences and humanities (e.g., demography, economy, geography, political science, sociology, etc.). It addresses all relevant levels (local, regional, national, international) and fields/areas as well as actors. Such approach enables definition of a common theoretical framework, development of theory and operational definitions of different types of minorities as well as theoretical concepts and models for the regulation and implementation of minority protection and rights and equality. It studies individual and collective nature of minority rights, focusing on approaches and standards of minority protection and rights implemented in individual states. Special attention is paid to the implementation of minority protection and rights and the actual situation of minorities and persons belonging to minority communities, thereby enabling the analysis of the gap between the normative and actual in this field that exists in every society. Diversity management is used as a broader context, of which minority rights and protection are important segments crucial for the voluntary, equal and full inclusion and integration of minorities and their members.
Significance for science
The project that builds upon research and scholarly tradition of minority and ethnic studies in Slovenia, particularly at IES in the past nine decades, and world contributes to the development of ethnic and minority studies as well as diversity management in Slovenia and globally. Considering its relevance for the advancement of science these results need to be noted: - Contributions to the development of theory, theoretic concepts, definitions and (theoretical) models relevant for law, social sciences (e.g., ethnic and minority studies, political sciences, sociology, socio-linguistics, public administration, diversity management, etc.) and humanities (e.g., ethnology, geography, history, etc.) in general. In this context, for example, the following social phenomena might be mentioned: ethnicity, minorities – particularly ethnic and national minorities, minority rights and protection, minority protection standards, autonomies, regionalism, federalism, discrimination and antidiscrimination, policies and strategies (e.g., integration, ethnic, anti-discrimination), regulation and management of diversity (strategies, policies, measures), etc. - Contributions to the development of research and methodological approaches and methodology in the fields of ethnic and minority studies, law as well as other disciplines and fields in social sciences and humanities that study ethnicity, minorities and minority statuses, minority rights and protection, inclusion and integration, autonomies, regionalism, federalism, discrimination and antidiscrimination, regulation and management of diversity, etc. It builds upon the approaches and principles of methodological pluralism that enable holistic study, understanding and interpretation of these complex social phenomena. Legal approaches, concepts and theories are complemented and developed by those developed in other disciplines and fields of social sciences and humanities; minority rights and protection are studied as important factors and segments of successful regulation and management of diversities in plural societies. The project attempts to make those approaches, concepts, definitions and theories applicable as research tools and yardsticks. - Review and analysis of historic development of minority rights and protection, particularly protection of national minorities in Central and SE Europe, paying special attention to specific regulations, standards and practices. The project analyzes certain segments of regulations and standards as well as (good) practices of inclusion and minority protection in diverse fields of life (e.g., public, commercial, corporate, competition, etc. law) that can contribute to the protection and prevent discrimination of minorities and weaker actors in the society. - Development of concepts, strategies, policies and measures of the regulation and management of diversities at all levels and in all environments that can contribute as the basis for the formulation of recommendations and measures that lead to the improvement of the situation, status, rights and protection of minorities as well as ethnic and minority policies and, consequently, (inter)ethnic relations. - Presentation of research results to interested public as well as their transfer and promotion in education (in higher education programs) in Slovenia and abroad. In addition to the contribution to the production of knowledge and theory, the project develops database on constitutional and legal regulation of minority rights in the region that is useful for further research and expert work in the fields of minority rights and protection of national and other minorities. Publications contribute to a better knowledge, understanding and management in those fields that helps in building peace and stability in diverse environments.
Significance for the country
Regulation and management of diversity are ever more relevant in plural and diverse societies (as Slovenia). Consequently, research results are directly usable in all (micro and macro) environments and organizations as well as for the Slovene and European society. Concepts and models of minority protection as well as findings and results regarding inclusion, integration, prevention of discrimination, etc. are relevant also for policy makers and legal regulation in different fields and at different levels, particularly in developing relevant legislation (e.g., in fields of human and minority rights, protection of minorities – especially ethnic and national minorities, integration and anti-discrimination policies and measures, process/procedural law and protection of weaker parts in official procedures, rights of minority shareholders, etc.); these findings are important also for practitioners in micro and macro environments, where there is a need to regulate and coordinate different interests as well as to enable inclusion and integration of all individuals and diverse groups and communities. Some results and findings have already been presented to the interested scholarly public in Central and SE Europe (e.g., International Regional Conference “Inclusion and Integration in Diverse Societies: Strategies and Experiences of Diversity Management in Central and South-Eastern Europe” in 2014), to representatives of different institutions (e.g., National Assembly, Ministry of Culture and its expert bodies in the field of human rights, minority culture and integration, Office for minorities, Council of Europe, OSCE, etc.) as well as to nongovernmental organizations (e.g., training for activists of NGOs and minority communities organized by Pina in 2014). Recommendations and practical suggestions can be useful social innovations in the fields, such as regulation and management of diversities – including regulation and management of ethnic relations, prevention, management and resolution of crises and conflicts, protection of minorities and minority policy, migration and migration policies, integration and integration policies, prevention of discrimination and anti-discrimination policies and measures, democratization and functioning and development of democratic institutions and procedures, regulation and management of center-periphery relations, multiculturalism/interculturalism, improvement of communication, compatibility and cooperation/competition in Europe and globally, development of functional relations as well as accessibility and quality of services, balanced and sustainable development, etc. Research results can be applicable in public administration and services, in companies with (ethnically, culturally, religiously, etc.) diverse workforce and in other majority-minority contexts that require the regulation and management of majority-minority relations. We believe that they are particularly relevant for the improvement of regulation and promotion of minority rights and protection, thereby contributing to the development of policies and legislation as well as to the long-term stability and successful inclusion and integration of minority communities and populations. Research results have been transferred into the educational process, particularly at the higher education (post)graduate levels, thereby directly contributing to the development of human resources as well as to the social, economic and cultural development of Slovenia. Additionally, the project results could serve as the basis for the future research of listed topics. We stress that providing for social stability and full inclusion and integration of all individuals and distinct groups in plural environments and society requires stable and long-term research of those topics and fields.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
