Suchergebnisse

The relationship between ethnic conflicts and democratisation is one of the most topical issues of the present time, but also of the future of multiethnic societies.That is why the subject of the analysis in this paper will be basic determinants ofethnic policies and models of ethnic relations management in the territories of former communist/socialist, multiethnic federations (CSSR, USSR and SFRY). Causes, factors, chief political and social actors and the impact of ethnic conflictson development and democratisation of post-communist multiethnic societies will be also analysed. As ethnic conflicts, i. e. the relationship the Majority - Minority, are going to be an active factor of changes in Eastern Europe, this paper will dealwith connections between ethnic conflicts, the status of minorities and the achieved level of democratisation. Special attention will be paid to the analysis of processes in the territory of former Yugoslavia, which could provide an abundance of material for such an analysis.This particularly applies to the most important conflicts between Serbs and Croats; Serbs, Croats and Muslims in B&H, Serbia and Macedonia. The exarnple of the Serbian-Albanian relations and war in Kosovo will be elaborated on because it sublimely manifests the devastating force of ethno nationalisrn alongwith Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, and Albanians and Macedonians in western Macedonia. However, the analysis will be reduced to Serbia and the FRY, more specifically to the crisis of national and state identity of the Majority (Serbs) andthe status of Minorities.

The existence of ethnic minorities gives headaches to most newly independent states, though they are much more homogeneous than their predecessors. Also, the fate of the minorities in the countries that have been trying to build themselves as nationally homogeneous is uncertain, although all the newly created states -- due to the triumph of the democratic models of government -- are forced to pledge allegiance to democracy. Due to the global dominance of democratic values, the authoritarian governments of the newly created states are forced to reach an accommodation with their minorities. The priority is to make the recognition of the minorities' rights one of the key measures of democracy. There are many ethnic conflicts in Europe but only those in the former Yugoslavia (including Kosovo) have spiraled into all-out war. Unlike the other incomplete democracies in postcommunist societies, the degrees of violence in the relationship majority-minority within nondemocratic states like Serbia (or SRY) or Tudman's Croatia, combined with the secessionist/separatist conflict, rapidly increases. In fact, the institutional protection of civil liberties & the respect for human rights are nonexistent; this prevents ethnic minorities from turning their demands into democratic electoral clout. Such governments are not able to govern democratically & to keep in check their ethnic opposition with democratic means. Also, a broad popular support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts via democratic institutions is lacking. 1 Appendix. Adapted from the source document.

The existence of ethnic minorities gives headaches to most newly independent states, though they are much more homogeneous than their predecessors. Also, the fate of the minorities in the countries that have been trying to build themselves as nationally homogeneous is uncertain, although all the newly created states -- due to the triumph of the democratic models of government -- are forced to pledge allegiance to democracy. Due to the global dominance of democratic values, the authoritarian governments of the newly created states are forced to reach an accommodation with their minorities. The priority is to make the recognition of the minorities' rights one of the key measures of democracy. There are many ethnic conflicts in Europe but only those in the former Yugoslavia (including Kosovo) have spiraled into all-out war. Unlike the other incomplete democracies in postcommunist societies, the degrees of violence in the relationship majority-minority within nondemocratic states like Serbia (or SRY) or Tudman's Croatia, combined with the secessionist/separatist conflict, rapidly increases. In fact, the institutional protection of civil liberties & the respect for human rights are nonexistent; this prevents ethnic minorities from turning their demands into democratic electoral clout. Such governments are not able to govern democratically & to keep in check their ethnic opposition with democratic means. Also, a broad popular support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts via democratic institutions is lacking. 1 Appendix. Adapted from the source document.