Globalization Influence on Minorities
Globalization Influence on Minorities

Summary/Abstract: Seen from the social dimension, globalization has brought to attention a series of aspects, such as the achievement of free circulation of people of all nations, growth of cross-cultural contacts, advent of new categories of consciousness and identities such as Globalism etc. Still, there are a lot of negative aspects of social globalization, and they can be clearly seen in the way European Union (EU) changed during the last decades. For example, we cannot say that a direct link between regional development and minority protection really exists. The focus on regional development does not equal development of regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, as selection of eligible areas for funding is based on poor development conditions and not the minority status of populations residing therein. Today, papers from the EU bring to attention the argument that EU cohesion policy cannot be expected to automatically reduce ethnic tensions, promoting inter-communal cooperation and accommodation of minority demands. "evertheless, EU cohesion policy represents one of the main factors that condition reformulation of domestic regional development agendas, framed through the prism of employment growth. In this context, attempts are made to incorporate a minority concern in the initiatives launched either through initiation or consolidation of power-sharing governance models. The new development opportunities created by EU funds trigger, and occasionally reinforce, political mobilisation of minorities, enhancing local democracy and representation. Integration of minority representatives in sub-national institutions is not inexorably linked to economic involvement in regional development activities.

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