Ethnic minorities and their effect on foreign policy

Abstract

The paper is a study on the role of Ethnic Minorities in International Relations, specifically an inquiry on their influence on foreign policy. Analysing Ethnic Minorities requires an open minded approach that takes into consideration various factors, for this reason this paper initially deals with identifying and defining Ethnicity and Ethnic Minorities, followed by a contextualisation of the two phenomena in European History. Prior to inquiring on foreign policy one must pinpoint the principal roles played by minorities in International Society, hence the contexts of Conflict Resolution and International Law, with an ulterior section on Minorities and Security. These all aim at giving a broad yet consistent foundation for the analysis of the role of minorities in foreign policy. Drawing on various authors' approaches and personal research, the point is made making reference to the Slovene Minority in Trieste. Ultimately all points to the fact that Minorities are important in an increasingly interdependent world society, where borders are fuzzy and the reality of the world lies in diversity and its integration, that shifts from local, to state, and finally international level, and where foreign policy decisions can be made and impact on all three levels of governance.