European Policy and Practices towards Ethnic Minorities
Student : EdonaBegu
AQCI 2: Kymlicka, Will (2001). “Western Political Theory and Ethnic Relations in Eastern Europe,” inKymlicka, Will, Opalski, Magda (eds.) Can Liberal Pluralism be Exported?, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, pp. 13-84
1. CentralQuotation
“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 in the book mentions ethnocultural injustice, but does not give a clear definition of what is considered ethno-culturally just or unjust.
4. ExperientialConnection
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. TextualConnection
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.
Sample Self-Assessment form
1

European Policy and Practices towards Ethnic Minorities
Student’s name:
Department of Public and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
EdonaBegu Name of assessor:
Angela Perinpanayagam
Marie Helen Ferdelman
Date: 21.11.2015
21/10/2015
Essay title:
Excel lent
Go od
Aver age
Po or
Comments x + x
Not accept able
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the author’s argument?
2) Has the main argument been fully understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
3a) Is the question raised important/relevant/interesting?
+ x x
+ x x
I believe yes although many important arguments are elaborated throughout the book.
Yes, I think you’ve gotten the gist of it quite well. It would be nice see it in your own words. x + x
I’m not sure if it is interesting I had difficulties on finding a question .
I think it is a valid question, after all terminology plays a vital role in academic studies.
You raise an important and interesting point, you could be a little clearer though what your question actually is
3b) Has this question not been fully answered in the text?
4) Is the experiential connection relevant/interesting?
+ x x
+ x x
I believe that my textual connection is relevant to the topic discusses.
I agree and I like that you point out that some of the changes proposed by the West have already been made in your own country while some of the
Western countries are still struggling to.
Your textual connection is very interesting and fits perfectly into the context
It of course a single yet important element. 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 x
2

European Policy and Practices towards Ethnic Minorities
6) Have the implications been well understood, can they have a practical impact for policy making?
7) Expression/Presentation
+ x x
I would be good to improve this section a bit.
You make a good argument but you could be a little more precise a) Are the style, grammar and general use of English adequate?
+ x b) Is the AQCI professionally presented? + x x x In general it is very well presented, you should watch out for minor formatting mistakes though. You are not quite consistent with the spaces between the paragraphs but that should be easily fixed.
Essay grade:
Further comments:
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. 13-
84
3