Developing support structures for ethnic minorities in Slovakia.

Abstract

Ethnic minorities are facing increasing problems of social exclusion in Central and Eastern Europe. The complex nature of the transition from socialism means that the institutional framework to support them is still being established. Whilst non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have a crucial role to play in promoting a more inclusive society, through improving access to local democratic structures for otherwise excluded groups and acting as fora for improved community participation throughout the region, their development remains fraught with problems. Examination of the experiences of one such organisation, ETNO Agentura based in northern Slovakia, provides an insight into the problems and opportunities arising as community representatives work together to provide social support for ethnic minorities. The paper outlines key issues arising from the case of ETNO Agentura, including difficulty in gaining access to supporting finance and securing long term financial viability, the lack of institutional capacity of local authorities to become receptive to their views, and implicit socio-cultural barriers to ethnic minority representation in community participation processes. Developing a fuller understanding of these problems and the measures required to overcome them is a central part of establishing a more effective role for NGOs within post socialist societies.