Minority Rights Research Articles

Populism, anti-populism and minorities: Governmental discourses on the Romani people in Greece (2015-2022)

The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by the rise of extremism nationalism, racism and xenophobia that deeply affect minority rights, such as the Roma that face diachronically blatant discrimination and racism. Due to the fact that many of the political leaders who underestimate the rights of minorities express often a populist discourse, a debate has opened up about the relationship between populism and minorities. There are many scholars who believe that populism tends to undermine liberal features like minority protections. But is populism necessarily an anti-pluralist and anti-minority phenomenon? What about the case of left-wing populism? Why do we avoid focusing on the relationship between anti-populism and minorities? In this article, we examine the relationship between populism, anti-populism and minorities through the case of two different governmental discourses in crisis-ridden Greece. Specifically, we focus on the governmental political discourse and policies of the populist SYRIZA (2015-2019) and anti-populist ND (2019-2022) on Roma, with the aim of showing that populism is not necessarily anti-pluralist, while anti-populism is not always pluralist, as both phenomena can follow inclusionary or exclusionary logics.

Efficiency of International Law Mechanisms for Human Rights Protection in Education

Objectives. The study deals with international law mechanisms for human rights protection in education. The aim of the study is to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of international law mechanisms for human rights protection in education. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical basis of the research was made up of the scientific works of scientists, quality and qualitative indicators of research, and the regulatory and legal framework. Methods: The research employed the method of comparison, visual graphic methods, a set of methods of processing, comprehension and interpretation of information. Results and Discussion: The study established the most common types of violations in the field of education, in particular: violation of the right of national minorities to education; impossibility of choosing the language of instruction; failure to provide inclusive education; discrimination against people with mental illness. Specific manifestations of the effectiveness of international law mechanisms for the human rights protection in the field of education are singled out, in particular: increasing public awareness and transparency of government activity, etc. Research Implications: The study gave grounds to draw the conclusions regarding the difficulty of proving the existence of violations in education. Attention is drawn to the subjectivity of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the ambiguous interpretation of norms enshrined in international legal acts. Originality/Value: The research is original, based on official data and the author's own conclusions, and has practical significance.

Islamism and nationalism: how did old enemies become new allies?

AbstractHistorically, religion and nationalism were opposing forces in many countries. Recently, however, they began to converge as part of rising populist movements globally. In the Muslim world, the partnership between Islamists and nationalists has become evident in several important countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Malaysia. This merging of Islamism and populist nationalism in the last decade signifies a third period in the Muslim world, following the era of secularist domination (1920s–1970s) and the era of Islamization (1970s–2010s). Some Islamic conservatives might regard the unification of religious and nationalist forces as beneficial to their conservative agenda. Nonetheless, this comes at the high cost of discrimination against Muslim minorities in several countries, such as India, Israel, the United States, and France. Beyond Muslim-majority countries and Muslim minorities, the global trend of advancing a religious-nationalist agenda threatens minority rights. This trend poses a major challenge to democracy, equal citizenship, and minority rights worldwide.

Legal Protection of the Rights of Minors: An Analysis of Current Legislation in China and the United States

Minors, as the future of the country and the hope of the nation, with the increasing recognition of their dominant position in China, although the state and society have given high attention and continuously improved relevant laws and regulations to safeguard their rights and security, such as the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors Article1the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention of Crimes Committed by Minors, the Constitution, the Compulsory Education Law and so on, these legal provisions are intended to provide comprehensive and multi-dimensional protection for minors and ensure that their physical and mental health are not violated. However, even in such a legal environment, the undercurrent of violating the rights of minors still persists. This paper is a legal essay on the protection of minors, summarizing the achievements and shortcomings of China and the United States in safeguarding the rights and interests of minors. This paper analyzes how society, schools, and families unintentionally touch the boundaries of minors' rights. Drawing on relevant experiences from the legal systems of China and the United States, this paper identifies the problems and offers suggestions for improving the protection of minors' rights.

The Notarial Form of a Contract as a Way to Protect the Civil Rights of Minor Subjects in Electronic Transactions

Introduction: the notarial form of a contract is one of the ways to protect civil rights in the field of family relations, including in electronic transactions requiring special guarantees and security measures, for the subsequent neutralization of possible disputes and unfair actions. Therefore, the use of a notarial form in such cases becomes a necessary step to ensure the rights and interests of the parties. The notary, as an independent and professional expert involved in the certification of transactions, ensures the reliability and legality of documents. They check the identity of the parties, their legal capacity, as well as the correctness of the formatting and content of the contract. This eliminates the possibility of forgery or providing false data. Purpose: to determine the validity of the use of the notarial form in transactions with minor participants, to identify the advantages of using this form and to create a legal structure for maximum protection of the rights of minors in civil contracts entailing the alienation or acquisition of real estate. Methods: the methodological framework for the study consists of methods of scientific cognition, whose main ones are the methods of consistency and analysis. Results: the author analyzes the legal mechanisms and legal features in transactions involving minors, examines the main theoretical and practical problems of the legal regulation of the implementation and organization of such transactions, including with the use of digital technologies, and formulates specific proposals to improve the current legislation in this area. Conclusions: the notarial form of a contract is an effective way to protect civil rights in the field of family relations, especially in the context of electronic transactions. Its use ensures trust between the parties, the legality and execution of the agreement, and helps to prevent possible conflicts and disputes.

The right of minors in the process of inheritance proceedings

The right of minors in the process of inheritance proceedings

Changing European Minority Rights Standards

Abstract The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the only comprehensive international minority rights treaty, was adopted in 1995 to counter ethnocentric exclusionary tendencies characteristic of newly emerging democracies in East-Central Europe. It has been evaluated as largely successful in developing progressive standards on minority rights, while judged less efficient in implementing them across member states. This article shows on the example of Slovakia that this traditional narrative conceals another important one: while the Framework Convention’s monitoring body, the Advisory Committee, maintains formally progressive positions, in substance it is becoming more accommodating of exclusionary practices. By comparing the Advisory Committee’s standards expressed in its periodic opinions on Slovakia to developments on the ground, the article demonstrates that the international standards are in fact deteriorating. The Advisory Committee’s recent opinions are much more favourable to the Slovak government’s policies on minority rights. Yet, a detailed analysis shows that those policies have not become more minority-friendly in practice. In fact, in several ways they have regressed. The current acceptance of practices it criticized in the past is an important shift in the Advisory Committee’s position. Yet this shift is not reflected in its formal standards, which remain progressive. The analysis shows that the Advisory Committee’s lack of transparency in its monitoring procedures leads to a misrepresentation of the situation of minority rights, which provides cover for anti-minority practices. This makes it difficult for outside observers to evaluate the true state of minority rights and the effectiveness of international standards. In closing, the article engages with the normative assumptions behind the Advisory Committee’s approach. The Framework Convention does not have a strong enforcement mechanism, therefore cooperation with governments is essential to ensure compliance. However, by accommodating exclusionary practices, the Committee also legitimizes them. While valid arguments can be raised both for and against this approach, it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of this trade-off because of its clandestine nature. More transparent monitoring would give legitimacy to an objective international standard, which the current approach risks undermining.

Addressing epistemic violence and methodological nationalism through a meta-analytical review on intergroup contact and conflict studies in Turkey

This paper provides an examination of intergroup contact research in the context of the Turkish-Kurdish ‘conflict’ through a meta-analytical scoping review. By doing so, we discuss how dominant biases in the literature such as methodological nationalism and epistemic violence influence research practices and knowledge-production systems in conflict and contact studies conducted under colonial rule. Through a thematic investigation, we found four variables that were commonly tested in intergroup contact studies: i) attitudes towards outgroup, ii) support for minority rights or multiculturalism, iii) perception of discrimination against the minority group, and iv) ethnic identity. We conducted four meta-analyses using a pool of 28 studies conducted in Turkey to unpack the associations of intergroup contact with: i) outgroup attitudes (r = .42; n = 5,624), ii) support for minority rights and multiculturalism (r = -.06ns; n = 1,567), iii) perception of discrimination against Kurds (r = .22; n = 2,431), and iv) ethnic identity (r = -.13; n = 4,636). The results demonstrated a moderate to strong relationship between intergroup contact and positive outgroup attitudes, while the findings were less robust for support for minority rights, perception of discrimination against Kurds, and ethnic identity. Furthermore, the group status and sample characteristics of the studies moderate the relationships between variables. Based on the findings and a critical analysis of the current literature, we discuss the limitations of the existing research and critical points for future studies.

Discrimination and Political Engagement: A Cross-national Test

Abstract What is the effect of personal discrimination on the political engagement of ethnic and racial minorities? Existing research theorizes increased engagement, but evidence is mixed. The discrimination and political engagement link is tested across six countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Interest in politics and political actions (e.g. protest and donations) show constant relationships: people who have experienced discrimination have more interest in politics and take more political actions. There is no clear evidence of different effects of political vs social discrimination. However, the link between turnout and discrimination varies systematically across countries: a positive correlation in three separate American datasets, but mixed and null in other countries. This may be the result of the distinctive American conflict over voting rights for racial minorities. The conclusion discusses priorities for future research, including a focus on establishing causal relationships and testing mechanisms.

Minority stress mediates associations of sexual minority state policies and tobacco use among US sexual minority young adults

IntroductionState policies surrounding sexual minority (SM) rights are associated with tobacco use among SM individuals. Research is scant regarding the role of distinct SM policy categories on SM young adults’ (SMYAs) tobacco use and mechanisms explaining these associations. MethodsWe analyzed 2023 survey data from 1100 SMYAs (ages 18–34; 14.2 % gender minority; 66.1 % bisexual+, 29.1 % monosexual; 53.2 % racial/ethnic minority) with representation across 45 US states and DC. Regression-based models examined: 1) direct associations of residing in states with negative and limited (vs. comprehensive) SM state policies with respect to 7 policy categories (relationship/parent recognition, nondiscrimination, religious exemptions, LGBTQ youth, healthcare, criminal justice, gender identity documents) with minority stress (mental health, internalized stigma, community connectedness); 2) direct associations of policy categories and minority stress with tobacco use (past-month cigarette, e-cigarette, any tobacco use, number of products used); and 3) indirect associations of policy categories with tobacco use through minority stress. ResultsRelative to residing in states with comprehensive policies, residing in states with limited relationship/parent recognition policies indirectly predicted higher odds of e-cigarette use through mental health; weaker nondiscrimination policies indirectly predicted using more tobacco products through internalized stigma; and negative healthcare policies indirectly predicted higher odds of cigarette and any tobacco use through community connectedness. ConclusionsThese novel findings regarding associations among distinct SM policy categories, minority stress mediators, and tobacco use outcomes warrant further examination to better understand these distinct mechanisms, ultimately to inform SM-related policy and advocacy efforts, as well as tobacco prevention and cessation efforts.

Different Perspectives on Democracy as an Explanation for the “Populist Radical Right Gender Gap”?

The “radical right gender gap” is an established finding in contemporary research, indicating that women support populist radical right parties (PRRPs) in significantly lower numbers than men. Despite substantial literature dedicated to uncovering the reasons behind this gap, significant questions remain unanswered. This article examines the nature of the radical right gender gap in greater detail, focusing on Switzerland—a country with one of the most established PRRPs in Western Europe, the SVP/SPP (Schweizer Volkspartei/Swiss People’s Party), making it a representative case. A defining feature of PRRPs that sets them apart from other parties is their clear distinction between in-groups and out-groups in society, coupled with the propagation of nativist and anti-pluralist values. While PRRPs emphasize caring for the in-group, they often advocate excluding the out-group from rights and privileges. This article argues that the preferences of PRRPs and female voters are in stark contrast regarding these issues. Building on empirical evidence that women place more importance on certain features of a democratic system than men do, we propose that this discrepancy may help explain the gender gap in support for these parties. Utilizing data from the European Social Survey 2020, which includes detailed questions on various understandings of democracy, we find robust support for our hypotheses within the Swiss context. Compared to men, women consider protecting the rights of minorities and safeguarding all citizens from poverty as especially important for a functioning democracy. These preferences emerge as influential factors contributing to women’s reluctance to support PRRPs.

Secure in Diversity? Transborder Ethnicity, Transnational Minority Activism, and Ontological (In)Security in the European Union

Abstract The liberal vision of the early 1990s envisaged the eastward extension of the Western European security community formed during the Cold War, based on intergovernmental cooperation and integration around the shared norms embodied by the European Union (EU), Council of Europe, and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Yet, transborder ethnic ties have remained a security concern within the “New Europe.” As well as the external challenges posed by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, growing transborder nationalism exhibited by Hungary and other states has also become a focus of tensions within the EU. These intra-EU concerns, I argue, should be understood primarily as an issue of ontological security and as part of a multilevel security dilemma implicating states, EU institutions, and national minorities as security-seeking non-state actors. The article focuses on the Federal Union of European Nationalities—a transnational umbrella NGO that in 2013–2021 led an unsuccessful European Citizens’ Initiative named “Minority SafePack” (MSPI) calling upon the European Commission to legislate on firmer guarantees of minority rights within EU member states. Applying the ontological security lens to the study of MSPI, I illustrate how it reflects specific claims voiced by transborder kin-minority activists consistently over the past century, before analyzing the counter-securitizing arguments deployed against it by states. Although MSPI was approved with a large majority within the European Parliament, the Commission ultimately rejected it. I consider why this was the case, as well as the implications of the rejection for the in varietate concordia concept that supposedly undergirds the European project.

THE TRAGEDY OF FELIX FRANKFURTER: FROM CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST TO REACTIONARY JUSTICE

This article reconsiders the life and record of Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter. Frankfurter was smart, hardworking, and talented, serving as a great activist lawyer and important law professor in his early career. When nominated to the court, there were high hopes he would follow Holmes and Brandeis in leading a progressive Court that would protect civil liberties and minority rights. However, it was not to be. On the Court Frankfurter became increasingly conservative and ultimately reactionary. In his opinions, he upheld persecution and discrimination of religious and racial minorities, occasionally hindered racial justice and civil liberties efforts, and opposed due process in criminal trials and fairness in elections. Arrogant and dismissive, he constantly fought with his brethren, alienating almost all of them. In the end Frankfurter was far too often on the wrong side of history, liberty and the law, and even legal ethics. The tragedy of Frankfurter is that he abandoned the constitutional rights and protections that he supported from his graduation from law school until he donned his robes. He could have been a great justice. Sadly, he was not.

Exploring the Dimensions of Religious Freedom: A Global and Comparative Analysis

Religion constitutes a fundamental aspect of the cultural and spiritual lives of individuals globally, encompassing an array of traditions, rituals, and practices. Within the context of liberal democracy's evolution, religion emerges as a critical element of political liberty and personal conscience. On an international scale, the right to religious freedom has been established as a core human right, essential for the sustenance of democratic governance. Despite its recognition, the right to religious liberty remains a highly contentious issue. Even in democracies that provide constitutional protections for religious freedom, debates persist regarding the extensive interpretation and implementation of this right, particularly concerning the rights of religious minorities within these nations. This study explores the concept of religious freedom as a globally recognized right, examining its representation and interpretation across various international and regional legal frameworks. Through this analysis, the paper endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of religious freedom on both a global and regional scale. Furthermore, it delves into the state of religious freedom in various political systems, ranging from democracies such as United States to theocracies and monarchies like the United Kingdom and countries characterized by a strict demarcation between religion and state affairs, exemplified by France's secularist approach.

Ethnicity and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in Bangladesh: a study using MICS data and policy reviews.

Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are crucial to human health. Reducing inequalities and ensuring universal access to WASH are essential to achieving the agenda of sustainable development. We aimed to measure access to WASH among ethnic minority populations in Bangladesh and understand the situation and factors affecting WASH practices among them. Additionally, we reviewed policy related to WASH to highlight the inequality faced by ethnic minority populations. We utilized data from the multiple indicator cluster survey-2019. We used the chi-square test for bivariate analysis and multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analyses to identify the effect of ethnicity on WASH in Bangladesh after controlling selected covariates. Furthermore, we systematically reviewed Bangladesh's WASH-related policies and programs. While 98.5% of Bengalis had access to basic drinking water services, the percentage is 60.6% for the ethnic minority population. For improved sanitation facilities not shared with others, the difference between Bengali and ethnic populations was 22.3% (64.6% vs. 42.3%). On the other hand, 75% of the Bengali population had a handwashing facility with water and soap, and 50% of the ethnic population had them. Ethnicity appeared to be a statistically significant predictor of every component of WASH. Compared to Bengali, the ethnic population had 87%, 45%, 31%, and 45% less access to water (aOR = 0.13, p ≤ 0.001), sanitation (aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001), and handwashing (aOR = 0.69, p ≤ 0.05), and WASH facilities aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001), respectively. Among the policies of Bangladesh, only one identified action for WASH rights of ethnic minorities. The government should identify the issues of WASH among ethnic minorities and represent them adequately in policies to achieve the aim of 'leaving none behind' of sustainable development goals.

Redefining Protection: Challenges and Solutions in Safeguarding Religious Minorities within International and Regional Legal Frameworks

This paper examines the challenges in defining and safeguarding religious minorities within international and regional legal frameworks. It explores the main research question of how existing legal instruments and definitions impact the protection of religious minorities and aims to propose recommendations for improving these protections. Through a literature review and critical analysis of international and regional legal frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and various regional instruments, the paper identifies significant gaps and inconsistencies in current protections. Key issues highlighted include the lack of a universally accepted definition of religious minorities, the limitations of international and regional instruments, and the varying interpretations of religious rights by bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights. The paper concludes with recommendations for clearer definitions, more robust legal provisions, and enhanced international and regional cooperation to better safeguard the rights of religious minorities. The findings emphasize the need for more effective approaches to protecting religious diversity and ensuring proper representation.

Territorial Autonomy across Asia: Assessing Challenges, Addressing Concerns

executive summary: This article analyzes one response to the challenges that governments face in managing diverse ethnic minorities—special self-government through territorial autonomy—focusing on Asian cases such as Aceh, Mindanao, Kashmir, Tibet, and Xinjiang, among others. main argument This article addresses five concerns related to territorial autonomy as a method of governing diverse ethnonational populations: (1) autonomy provides a path to eventual independence, (2) granting autonomy to one region triggers a cascade of demands from others, (3) autonomy results in ineffective governance, (4) self-government amplifies differences between groups rather than bridges them, and (5) autonomous regions mistreat local minorities. It argues that the first two concerns are exaggerated, while the third is more mixed; meaningful autonomy has yet to result in independence and does not typically spark demands from other regions but might lead to poor governance. The final two concerns are more valid, rooted in the very purpose of self-government; autonomy leads to regional nation-building that could weaken relations with other groups and generate tensions with local minorities. policy implications • Territorial autonomy serves distinctive minorities, but it also serves national governments. Autonomy should be seen as a conservative institution that preserves the territorial status quo. • The most important concerns related to territorial autonomy are within autonomous regions. This shifts the focus from maintaining a country's integrity and toward designing better forms of autonomy. Within autonomous regions, laws should speak to minority rights, encouraging titular minorities to recognize their own minority groups. • Territorial autonomy has underappreciated potential to manage minority demands while maintaining international borders in Asia-Pacific countries.

Rights of Muslim Minorities in Contemporary India: A Critical Analysis

This paper examines the rights of Muslim minorities in contemporary India. It analyzes their legal status, political representation, and socioeconomic conditions. The study explores challenges Muslims face in areas such as education, religious freedom, and personal security. It also looks at discrimination issues and the unique challenges confronting Muslim women. The paper reviews government policies aimed at protecting minority rights and the role of civil society in advocating for Muslims. By examining these various aspects, this research provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Muslim minority rights in India. It highlights both progress made and ongoing challenges, offering insights into the complex dynamics of religious minority rights in a diverse democracy

The Oromo's Contribution to Civilization in Maintaining Societal Peace Focuses on the Guji Oromo in Southeast Oromia

Gada is the brainchild and democratic system of the Oromo people that stand for all life without any prejudice. Gada regulated political stability, peace, economic growth, social doings, cultural duties, ritual and moral responsibility by its structure, principle and function. The quality of Gada system is that it has division of power, Inclusiveness, principle of check, keep majority rules and minority right, and balance and role of peace building among the society. The general objective of this paper is to present the significance of Gada in keeping peace of society and country event focus on Guji Oromo, south eastern Oromia for all readers. Different paper were written by lots of scholars on the concept of Gada system, but it is scanty on blood feud activities for the resolution chaos and restoration of peace. Thus this paper is done in order to fill the gap. The data in this study consisted of the primary and secondary sources. The primary source largely focus on interview either physically or mobile calling based on snow ball sampling method, discussion and observation different reconciliation. Secondary sources were collected by assessing, analyzing, evaluating, crosschecking and codifying different published and unpublished materials. Finally, these data were described, expressed and articulated through qualitatively research method and based on historical and ethnographic approach.

Children’s rights … and duties! In pedagogy and intercultural and peace education

ABSTRACT The contribution deals critically with the issue of citizenship and children’s rights, identifying a silent void starting from the change we have witnessed with the progressive questioning of the principles, secular, and religious, of adult authority and the sacrosanct affirmation rights of minors and their defence against violence and abuse. This questioning, for example in Italy, took the form of the abolition of the concept of patria potestatis, replaced with that of parental responsibility. However, looking at the juridical, pedagogical, and children’s literature, it seems that in the face of numerous publications which speak of children’s rights, very few are those that deal with the theme of (any?) the duties of minors.