Lecture: European Policies and Practice toward Ethnic Minorities
Lecturer: Antonin Mikes
Student: Olimpia Scognamiglio
AQCI: Weldon, Steven A. “The Institutional Context of Tolerance for Ethnic Minorities: A
Comparative,Multi-Level Analysis of Western Europe.” American Journal of Political Science,50(2):331-49,
2006.
1. Central Quotation: “In terms of attitudes toward ethnic minorities, the process likely operates at two
levels. At one level, it refers to basic political liberties, such as freedoms of speech and association, as well
as the right to vote and run for political office. At another level, it refers to the content of that expression
that is, the right to express cultural difference and the acceptance of this by the native population”.
2. Argument: Weldon’s analysis explains why citizenship can be used as a tool to understand interethnic
group relations. Thanks to the framework that he creates, Weldon shows us how citizenship regime policies
have implications in tolerance of ethnic minorities. The analysis divides western European countries in two
categories: collectivistic-civic type and individualistic-civic countries. The first category expects immigrants
to assimilate and has some policies to preserve the native cultural homogeneity while in the second case,
“individualistic countries”, law protects immigrants and minorities and they can preserve the aspects of
their native culture in both private and public life. The article also shows the effects of this different statepolicy on native inhabitants, making them more or less disposed to tolerance towards different ethnic
groups.
3. Question: Weldon’s analysis is well structured and complete, I have found there several interesting data
and information. Still, I did not find the answer to questions that crossed my mind while reading. For
example, should minorities be protected by law but expected to assimilate into majority culture sooner or
later? Or should they be protected by law and expected to maintain their cultural identity? Basically, what
group of countries is acting in the “right way”?
4. Experiential connection: Weldon affirms that Italy is one of the “individualistic countries”, that means
that we allow people to preserve their culture and that they are protected by law. Indeed, I noticed that we
are very tolerant towards minorities. For example with Muslim: children can have meals without pork at
school, workers are allowed to pray when they must do it even if it is work-time, they can change the shifts
during the Ramadan and women are allowed to wear Hijab at school or in public places. Same is towards
other communities, such as the Roma or the Chinese ones. They can receive the citizenship after 10 years
(or 5 in special cases), but they are not expected to give up on their native culture in order to assimilate
into the Italian culture.
5. Textual connection: “The evidence in the West strongly suggests that democratic stability can only be
achieved by recognizing, not suppressing, minority national identities.” (Kymlicka, p.31).
I report this sentence from Kymlicka’s article because I think that it can be related to the “collectivistic-civic
countries” defined by Weldon: if those countries will be able to change their policy and protect people
through law without expecting them to assimilate into the majority cultrue, they will probably achieve a
better democratic stability.
6. Implications: The argument portrayed in this text allows us to understand better the connections
between State policies and people general mind-set. Thanks to Weldon’s analysis, I have been able to
realize that the way in which my nation faces problems affects my own perceiving of problem itself and I
think that this is quite important if related to tolerance and respect towards minorities in general, in order
to create a better and more tolerant society.
References
-Weldon, Steven A. “The Institutional Context of Tolerance for Ethnic Minorities: A Comparative,MultiLevel Analysis of Western Europe.” American Journal of Political Science,50(2):331-49, 2006
-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 – 103
Department of Public and
Sample Self assessment form
Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s
name:
Olimpia Scognamiglio
Essay title:
AQCI: Weldon, Steven A. “The Institutional Context of Tolerance for Ethnic Minorities: A
Comparative,Multi-Level Analysis of Western Europe.” American Journal of Political
Science,50(2):331-49, 2006.
Name of
assessor:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the
author’s argument?
Go
od
Date:
Aver
age
x
x
2) Has the main argument been fully
understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
x
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully
answered in the text?
x
x
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
x
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?
x
x
x
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:
x
x
Po
or
Not
accept
able
Comments