European Policy and Practices towards Ethnic Minorities
Student: Edona Begu
AQCI 2: Kymlicka, Will (2001). “Western Political Theory and Ethnic Relations in Eastern Europe,”
in Kymlicka, Will, Opalski, Magda (eds.) Can Liberal Pluralism be Exported?, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, pp. 13-84
1. Central Quotation
“But when we turn to issues of ethnic relations, it is far more difficult to identify the principles guiding
Western democracies […] Western political theory may have relatively little to offer to people in ECE
struggling with ethnic conflicts” (Kymlicka 2001).
2. Argument
Kymlicka, in this part of his book, in details elaborates the theory and the models of ethnic relations that
have emerged in Western democracies. He argues that the Western democracies do not have a solid
theory or principles upon which they have built the ethnic relations and rights in their countries. One of the
biggest flaws, pointed out by author, is the ‘ethnocultural neutrality’ argument used by western theorists to
explain the way that a democratic state should deal with ethno-cultural diversity. According to the western
theorists, the state should be ‘neutral’ to its citizens’ ethno-cultural diversity; and yet almost all these
democratic states have been engaged in the process of ‘nation-building,’ trying to blend all the ethnic
groups under a single culture. As such, they have promoted a “common language and a sense of
common membership in, and equal access to, the social institutions operating in that language” (2001),
thus clearly favoring a language and a culture over the other. Given these flaws, the author comes to his
main argument that the ECE countries do not have much to learn from the western liberal countries, when
it comes to the ethnic relations.
3. Question
Kymlicka during the book mentions ethnocultural injustice, but does not give a clear definition of what is
considered ethno-culturally just or unjust.
4. Experiential Connection
Having lived in Kosovo for 14 years, a state that emerged after an inter-ethnic war, I have witnessed the
Western countries rhetoric and influence in defining the ethnic rights, relations and politics as the country
came into being. Once guarantors of the Kosovo’s freedom, western countries such as U.S., have been
intensely involved in drafting the Constitution and making sure that the Constitution guarantees the rights
for all the ethnic groups. Hence, for example Kosovo Constitution recognizes two official languages,
Albanian and Serbian, which despite the equal protection status enjoy other language related rights in
regards to education, media and with relation to institutions (Constitution of Kosovo 2008). I believe that
Western countries, especially in the Kosovo case, have given enough of their experience in constructing
ethnic relations. However, I agree with the author when he claims that western countries do not have the
clear principles that guide ethnic relations, because some of the minority rights that you can find in
Kosovo Constitution you cannot find in any of these countries that were pushing so hard for them.
5. Textual Connection
Similarly to this book, Britch in his chapter “National integration” explores the definition of nation-building.
Both authors claim that states have been involved in nation-building and agree in the definition of the
nation building process. Moreover, they both mention language as a very important factor in the survival
of a culture and as tool used during the nation- building process. Birch, similarly to Kymlicka points out
that “(…) minority languages are more certain to fall in disuse, if given no official encouragement ( …).”
However, Birtch in his book goes further into explaining the theories and giving examples in support of
nation-building and integration process.
6. Implications
Since western democracies cannot provide the principles or a model for ethnic-relation and given the fact
that among different western countries there are different examples of ethnic-relations, rather than a
“good model” to be followed; than this indicates that countries should stop the practice of adopting
western countries policies especially policies related to ethnic minorities without bringing them to their
context.
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European Policy and Practices towards Ethnic Minorities
Sample Self-Assessment form
Department of Public and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s
name:
Edona Begu
Name of
assessor:
Date:
21.11.2015
Essay title:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the
author’s argument?
Go
od
+
Aver
age
Po
or
Not
accept
able
Comments
I believe yes although many
important arguments are
elaborated throughout the book.
+
2) Has the main argument been fully
understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
+
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully
answered in the text?
I’m not sure if it is interesting I
had difficulties on finding a
question .
+
+
I believe that my textual
connection is relevant to the topic
discusses.
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
+
5a) Is the textual connection
relevant/interesting?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
5c) Has it been adequately explained
how the present text's argument
contrasts with, contradicts, confirms,
clarifies, or elaborates the other text's
argument or point?
+
+
+
6) Have the implications been well
understood, can they have a practical
impact for policy making?
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general
use of English adequate?
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
+
+
Essay grade:
Further comments:
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European Policy and Practices towards Ethnic Minorities
References
Birch, Anthony (1989) Nationalism and National Integration, London: Unwin Hyman Ltd, chapter 4:
National integration, pp. 36-51
Kosovo’s Constitution. Rights of Communities. Article 62 [online]. [Accessed 19 October 2015]. Available
from: http://www.kushtetutakosoves.info/?cid=2,258
Kymlicka, Will (2001). “Western Political Theory and Ethnic Relations in Eastern Europe,” in Kymlicka,
Will, Opalski, Magda (eds.) Can Liberal Pluralism be Exported?, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 1384
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