Regions, Minorities and European Integration: A Case Study on Muslims in Western Thrace, Greece
Regions, Minorities and European Integration: A Case Study on Muslims in Western Thrace, Greece

Summary/Abstract: This report explores the regional changes and the redefi ned government policy towards the minority in Western Thrace, Greece, which were largely undertaken in the context of EU integration, as well as their consequences for ethnic politics, cultural mobilization and inter-communal relations. The original research hypotheses were that regional and minority rights changes in the context of European integration a) promote political and economic integration of minorities in development frames, as well as inter-communal cooperation, and b) reinforce a relative decline of nationalist politics, with the interests and identity of minorities and majorities increasingly emphasizing social-economic integration, civic participation and equal citizenship, as opposed to ethnic solidarity. Our fi ndings suggest that minority and majority partly shift their interests in the direction of pursuing regional economic [...] Background of the case: the legacy of underdevelopment and minority marginalization European integration, the minority and the domestic-regional context of change Political participation, socio-economic development and ethnic politics in Thrace Changing cultural and political demands of the minority Ethnic, national and European identities and the political demands of the minority Citizenship understandings and cultural claims in the national and European context

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