Beyond International Conditionality: Local Variations of Minority Representation in Central and South-Eastern Europe

The past decade has shown great changes in the accommodation of minority communities into South-East European and Central European countries. New measures and instruments adopted in these countries often rely on international standards and on the recommendations of international organisations. A new phase of EU conditionality policy has been developed towards SEE countries aspiring to EU membership. Besides the conditionality policy of international organisations - the Council of Europe and EU membership policy -, in the case of Kosovo and Macedonia the intervention of international bodies had a direct influence on domestic policies towards minorities. New bodies of minority self-governments, of elected and non-elected consultative bodies and new solutions for their parliamentary representation have emerged. This book addresses these issues by offering an analysis of different forms of 'effective participation' for minorities in public life, the effects of European integration and detailed case studies of the different models adopted by these states.