Minorities in Times of Disintegration: From the Margins to the Heart of Conflict
The article discusses the pivotal role of minorities in regional conflicts and their exploitation by states amid geopolitical upheavals.
The article explores the critical position of minorities in various geopolitical conflicts, suggesting that the issue of minorities transcends mere demographic considerations or isolated human rights demands. Instead, minorities often emerge as significant players in state sovereignty and internal cohesion, manipulated as tools in negotiations or as leverage during transformative moments.
In the context of violent geopolitical transformations in the Middle East and the Balkan Peninsula, the article identifies the issue of minorities as a crucial instrument in reshaping the region's dynamics. It emphasizes that minorities are not just cultural or social actors but strategic elements at the intersection of domination projects, justice demands, and forms of soft disintegration. This highlights the significant agency of groups such as the Druze, Alawites, and Yezidis in the Arab East, alongside Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs in the Balkans, illustrating the complex web of loyalty, marginalization, and external influence they navigate.
The discussions around minorities reveal the fragile nature of state structures currently facing internal and external pressures. As the article unfolds, it posits that understanding the role of minorities is essential for grasping broader regional conflicts and the multifaceted strategies employed by various powers, thus pointing to an urgent need for a nuanced approach in addressing their rights and representation amidst the shifting political landscape.