European Integration and the Nationalities Question

A highly topical examination ofthe effect of European integration on relations between states and minority nations. This new collection brings together the leading specialists in the field, and covers a wide range of cases, from Northern Ireland in the West, to Estonia and Latvia in the East, and Cyprus in the South-East. The contributors assess how European integration has affected the preparedness of states to accommodate minorities across a range of fundamental criteria, including: enhanced rights protection; autonomy; the provision of a voice for minorities in the European and international arena; and the promotion of cross-border cooperation among communities dissected by state frontiers. The comprehensive chapters stress the importance of the nationality question, and the fact that, contrary to the hopes and beliefs of many on the left and right, it is not going to go away. Beginning with an introductory essay that summarizes the impact of European integration on the nationalities question, this accessible book will be of strong interest to scholars and researchers of politics, nationalism, ethnic conflict and European studies.

1. Introduction: European Integration and the Nationalities Question Section A. Theoretical and Comparative Approaches 2. Europe, the State and the Nation 3. The Evolving Basis of European Norms of Minority Rights: Rights to Culture, Participation and Autonomy 4. National Minorities and EU Enlargement: External or Domestic Incentives for Accommodation? 5. Autonomy, Power-Sharing and Common Citizenship -- Principles for Accommodating National Minorities in Europe 6. Kin-States Protecting National Minorities: Positive Trend or Dangerous Precedent? 7. Minorities, Violence, and Statehood on the European Periphery 8. The Impact of Post-Communist Regime Change and European Integration on Ethnic Minorities: The ‘Special’ Case of Ethnic Germans in Eastern Europe 9. Cross-border Minorities and European Integration in Southeast Europe: The Hungarians and Serbs Compared Section B. Case-Studies 10. From ‘Full National Status’ to ‘Independence’ in Europe -- The Case of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales 11. Nations Without States in the EU: the Catalan Case 12. Scottish Autonomy and European Integration: The Response of Scotland’s Political Parties 13. Basque Nationalism: Sovereignty, Independence and European Integration 14. Liberalising Estonia’s Citizenship Policy: The Role of the European Union, OSCE and Council of Europe 15. Europe’s Limits: European Integration and Conflict Management in Northern Ireland 16. Breton Identity Highlighted by European Integration 17. Baltic Identities and Interests in a European Setting: A Bottom-Up Perspective 18. EU Accession and Conflict Resolution in Theory and Practice: the Case of Cyprus

John McGarry is Professor of Political Studies and Canada Research Chair in Nationalism and Democracy at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. Michael Keating is Professor of Regional Studies at the European University Institute in Florence and Professor of Scottish Politics at the University of Aberdeen.