Internationale Minderheitenpolitik im westlichen Balkan

Minority protection in former Yugoslavia has made significant progress in recent years. Not only the end of authoritarian nationalist regimes in the region, but also new minority laws have improved the legal protection of minority groups. The danger of violence has also receded with the exception of Kosovo and Macedonia. Despite these positive developments, nationalism remains salient and majority-minority relations continue to be tense. This article examines weaknesses in current international policies of minority protection in the Western Balkans. First, the existing international instruments of minority protection have often been weak and are only partly implemented. Second, existing policies often neglect the protection of state-majorities who might find themselves in minority, constituting a source of tension. Third, policies have emphasised the political representation of minorities alone, often neglecting concrete rights. Finally, minority protection continues to be guided by conflicts, often to the disadvantage of smaller minorities. These problems suggest the need for the development of a more coherent EU minority rights policy towards the Western Balkans, in particular in the light of the Stabilization and Association Proces