Transnational Participation of Minorities Conference

Transnational Participation of Minorities Conference
21/11 - 22/11

21. November 2024. - 22. November 2024.

Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE (H–1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 7th floor Conference Hall & Room 0.100C)

11/21 - 11/22

2024. November 21. - 2024. November 22.

Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE (H–1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 7th floor Conference Hall & Room 0.100C)


The Department of Human Rights and Politics & Roma Research Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE invites you to join their upcoming conference titled "Transnational Participation of Minorities Conference."

Minority groups struggle for recognition across Europe not only in formal terms but for the recognition of their (political) interests and considering them in the decision-making process. These struggles or political movements can take place on very different levels of the European political arena.   

Minorities’ claims, interests, opinions or social perspectives can be represented successfully if they can participate in the European project, and if they can influence the outcome of the decision-making process. European integration has impacted on minority politics. First, it helped states adopt minimum standards when it comes to providing political opportunities for minorities. Second, it provides the opportunity for transnational advocacy of minorities as evidenced with the establishment of institutions such as the European Citizens’ Initiative or with the participation of minorities in the work of the European Parliament or with the participation of minority NGOs in the work of different IGO’s. The prospects for transnational mobilization, advocacy and minority participation within European organizations have not yet been fully explored. 

The peacebuilding context is particularly important for minorities in post-conflict societies, where the restoration of trust and inclusion in political processes is essential for long-term stability. European institutions provide platforms for such minority groups to advocate for their rights, contribute to reconciliation efforts, and ensure their voices are heard in the rebuilding of democratic institutions.  

The conference explores the diverse opportunities of transnational minority representation and political mobilization in Europe and in European institutions. We strive to see how transnational minority representation can be conceptualized in a time of growing nationalism and security concerns in European institutions. The conference is intended to cover cases related to political mobilization in European institutions.

Panels focusing specifically on the Roma minority will also serve as a launch event for the recently established Roma Research Group of ELTE's Faculty of Social Sciences.

Conference Program and Abstracts (download PDF)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Thursday, 21 November 2024, 7th floor Conference Room

09:45

Opening Speeches

Zoltán Gábor Szűcs as Vice Dean for International Affairs and Deputy Director of Institute of Political and International Studies

Andrew Ryder as Chair of the ELTE Roma Research Group and Director of Institute of Political and International Studies

10:00

Keynote Presentation

Kristin Henrard: Nation building and Minority (language) Rights before the ECtHR: Three steps forward, one leap back

Coffee break

10:45-12:15

Chair: Karolina Lendák-Kabók

Citizenship and Transnational Politics

Mihai Alexandrescu: European Union Citizenship and Its Avatars

Paul Popa: Stateless persons and third-country nationals shaping EU's citizenship policies

Alíz Nagy: Transnational representation of non-resident voters

János Fiala: A human right to citizenship as a source of conflict and forger of new alliances: the case study of the Slovak law on citizenship

Karolina Lendák-Kabók: Ethnic Identity and Intermarriage in Post-Yugoslav Spaces: The Impact of Nationalism and Education

Lunch break

13:30-15:00

Chair: Péter Kállai

European Framework for National Roma Policies

Tamás Lönhárt: Ethnic Minorities Confronted with the Collective Guilt related post-WWII legislation: Political Representation, Politics of Memory and Reconciliation

Balázs Vizi: Social integration and/or minority rights – how does the FCNM Advisory Committee identify Roma issues?

Anneli Weiste: Community-based participatory research method in Finnish Roma Health and Wellbeing Study

Balázs Majtényi: Where is the European protection of Roma rights headed?

Coffee break

15:15-16:45

 

Chair: Alíz Nagy

Non-territorial Autonomy

Jelena Lončar: Rethinking substantive representation of ethnic minorities

Balázs Kiss: Between Scylla and Charybdis: Lessons from the 2024 Elections of National Minority Self-Governments in Hungary

Katinka Beretka: Participation of National Minorities in Serbia, with Special Regard to the Implementation of the Lund Recommendations

Balázs Dobos: Territoriality and political participation. Cultural autonomies and minority parliamentary representation in Central and South Eastern Europe

 

Friday, 22 November 2024, Ground floor Conference Room, 0.100C

10:00

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Iulius Rostás: Decolonizing Minority Rights – A Critical Examination from the Roma Minority Perspective

Coffee break

10:45-12:00

Comparison of identities and strategies of Roma and Indigenous Canadians (roundtable)

Frank Thomas Zsigó, Körtvélyesi Zsolt, Andrew Ryder

Lunch break

13:15-14:30

George Soros and the Roma (roundtable)

Andrew Ryder, Frank Thomas Zsigó, Lilla Farkas

Coffee break

14:45-16:15

Chair: Balázs Majtényi

Roma Representation in the Nation States

Dezső Máté: The Genesis of the “Gypsy”

Péter Kállai: Roma representation in Hungarian Parliament 2014-2024

Lilla Farkas: The significance of Roma leadership: the ERRC’s framing of the ‘Roma issue’ before and after 2015

Zsolt Körtvélyesi: The Balkan Chalk Circle? Competing Jurisdictions and Minority Rights

Evening: wine reception and final networking at Bura Galéria. Venue: 1085 Budapest, Kőfaragó street 5.

Organizers

Department of Human Rights and Politics & ELTE Roma Research Group

The conference is supported by the University Excellence Fund of Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary (ELTE).