The continuing relevance of the Copenhagen Document – Muslims in Western Europe and the security dimension

The Copenhagen Document was adopted in the wake of the Cold War, with the situation of ‘national minorities’ in Central and Eastern Europe and former Soviet States in mind. However, by recognising the potential for the violation of human rights to lead to conflict, the Copenhagen Document remains relevant to minority situations throughout the world. This article explores the increasing relevance of these rights to Muslim minorities in Western Europe. It is argued that if Western European States wish to proactively prevent conflict with their Muslim populations, lessons can be learnt from the approach adopted in the Copenhagen Document. In particular, the emphasis on encouraging societal cohesion in order to reduce the potential for conflict, through effective participation in public affairs and intercultural dialogue and tolerance, is a message that must be heeded by Western European States