A historical analysis of policies and legal measures regarding racism and religious intolerance (with emphasis to xenophobia) in the European Union

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to give an overview and than try to go more into details as regards some aspects of human rights. Racism and religious intolerance are two of these aspects that I found appropriate and interesting to discuss since these are seen as a phenomenon that at the moment are increasing within the European Union. The will to protect some 'rights' that people have from centuries is an aim that countries have given to themselves. It is interesting to analyze and understand why such a protection is necessary, basically we are all human and therefore we should respect this human aspect of each other. It should not be necessary to compile a list of fundamental rights and sign to protect them when everything is so clear to everybody. The most striking thought is that governments through laws and directives cannot protect human rights but by people themselves should do that. This is not hypocrisy but a reality. When talking about written laws seen in documents and official papers they are perfect for all citizens, the obstacle is their application on reality where discrimination and intolerance are the every day problems of people. In practice in real life shows that people cannot be so rational and so understandable towards all diversities and difficulties in communicating with some people having a different background from theirs. This is the point that I want to stress in this thesis through many arguments, chronologies and efforts that the EU is doing in order to stop the further spreading of indignation of the European citizens towards foreigners.