Projects archive - year 2011

Minorities in the political discourse

Qualitative research

Donor: Funded by the Government Office of the Slovak Republic

            within the frame of the program Support and Protection

            of Human Rights and Freedom.

 

Duration: October- December 2011

 

The project is a response to the recent developments in the field of minority policy in Slovakia which demonstrate that minorities are construed as a threat to Slovak national interests and ethnically defined Slovak identity. It is based on the premise that by justifying minority policies by protection of national interests political elites, given their dominant status in the society, co-create a framework for perceiving minorities among lay public. It is plausible that discourse presenting minorities as a menace results in a belief that they indeed pose a threat to the majority society (e.g. territorial threat, cultural or economic threat etc.). In the long run such approach deepens interethnic tensions, discrimination and intolerance. The project is therefore aimed at analysing political discourse on minorities and increasing expertise of policy makers with respect to formulation of minority policies.

 

One of the main objectives is to explore means of justifying minority policies- is it the need to prevent conflicts and protect cultural interests of the dominant nation? Or are the policies guided by principles of justice and equality? The project aspires to introduce different institutional models of minority rights protection and to present them to those with capacities to shape public policies, i.e. representatives of the public administration and Members of the Parliament, all the while bearing in mind the aim to facilitate a positive change in perception of minorities and effective implementation of constitutional and international minority rights.

 

 

Measures to improve the education of Roma children - are they truly inclusive?

Analyses of the current situation and recommendations for improvement

Donor: Government Office of the Slovak Republic

 

Period: October 2011 – March 2012

 

The main goal of the project has been based on qualitative empirical research to evaluate the current public policy measures aimed to improve the education of Roma children in terms of their inclusiveness. This meant to assess to what extend the measures enable full and equal opportunities for Roma children to participate in the educational process without endangering their own cultural identity. Based on the research CVEK research team had an ambition to formulate recommendations to improve existing policies and if necessary to suggest alternative tools, which would support the inclusive education of Roma children and prevent systematic exclusion of Roma children from mainstream education.

CVEK´s project focused on two basic types of measures: pedagogical measures (especially teaching assistants, zero grade, individual integration), and financial measures (e.g. subsidies for food and school supplies, motivational scholarships, etc.) from a so far unexamined perspective - inclusive education, which respects the social disadvantages and also cultural differences. CVEK monitored the extent to which these programs help the Roma children in being able to fully participate in school without having to assimilate and to give up their identities. CVEK focused on the examination of the extent and if at all the educational system bears the burden of the process of inclusion. In the center of a CVEK´s concern therefore was whether the school is adapted to the needs of Roma children, or if only the adaptation of the minority into the existing structures is expected.

Muslims in Visegrad

Qualitative research

Donors:

Anna Lindh Foundation

International Visegrad Fund

                                     

Partners:

Institute for International Relations, Prague

Hungarian Institute for International Affairs, Budapest

Tischner European University, Kraków

           

Period: June 2011- August 2011

 

The project has been aimed at fostering discussion and providing information on Muslims living in Visegrad countries to the wider public. Its main premise was that prejudice and xenophobia are primarily rooted in the lack of relevant information and contact between cultures. Muslim communities in V4 countries have been on the margins of the researchers’ interest despite having been parts of these countries for decades; this is why it has been essential to bring the majority and the Muslim minority closer and open discussion on mutual coexistence and benefits of increasing diversity in V4 countries.

 

The project included open discussions with representatives of Muslim communities and the public in all Visegrad countries and a preliminary research aimed at exploring Muslims’ perception of their relations with the majority populations, their view of the role that the media plays in shaping the public opinion, and structure and functioning of Muslim communities. The research should serve as a stepping stone for a future large scale project aimed at Muslim communities in V4 countries.

 

                                                          

Enhancing prospects of integration of third countries nationals on the local level

Research and educational project

Donor: European Fund of Integration of Third Countries Nationals 

 

Period: March 2011 - June 2012

 

Building capacities of actors of local integration policies through networking and development of information base.

 

The project has been concerned with integration of migrants on local level. It is assumed that successful integration of migrants depends on the way this matter is perceived dealt with by local stakeholders. Local stakeholders in this project include not only regional and local self-governments and their subsidiary organizations but also various, civic associations and migrants living in particular municipalities themselves.

 

The project aimed to focus attention of the above mentioned stakeholders on the issue of migration and integration in the light of regional development. This goal has been achieved by collecting information on the issue (statistical data, information on legislation and public policies, interesting examples of integration on the local level from abroad etc.) and by providing information to the stakeholders on regular basis (bulleting and informational website).

 

The next step of the project has been concerned with selecting municipalities/towns (5 altogether) where info-points were established. Info-points serve as information providers but also to help network relevant actors of local integration policies. In the course of the project implementation several informational and coordination meetings were held in the selected localities. The meetings were conceptualized as a room for discussions of actors of local integration policies about integration of migrants in particular municipalities. Relevant stakeholders were offered individual consultations regarding issues of integration of migrants in their municipalities or integration related problems they might encounter.

 

CVEK launched a formal cooperation with following regional partners:
Bratislava - city borough Bratislava- Old City
Košice - ETP Slovakia
Martin - Municipal Office Martin
Trnava - Regional Development Agnecy for the Trnava Self-Governing Region
Zvolen - Municipal Office Zvolen

Based on the cooperation with the said regional partners and networking meetings on the local level a framework strategy of foreigners’s integration was drafted for each town. The strategies explore populations of foreigners in each town, their situation and needs, institutions concerned with integration of foreigners, availability of support services for migrants and the concept documents’ approach to migrants’ integration on the local level. The strategies conclude with challenges and recommendations aiming to improve the process of foreigners’ integration on the local level.

The project includes several informational materials serving as a source of information on migrants’ integration for local actors of integration as well as wider professional public:

Bulletin Integration of migrants on the local level/1
Bulletin Integration of migrants on the local level/2
Bulletin Integration of migrants on the local level/3

and the informational website www.integration.sk

 

Project was financed by European Integration Fund for Third Country Nationals within the programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows.

Summer School of Ethnicity and Migration Studies - 2nd Edition (2011)

July 18 - 30, 2011

Organizer: CVEK, Bratislava  

 

Partners:

Faculty of Social and Economic Science, Comenius University, Bratislava

European Centre for Minority Issues, Flensburg 

Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Brno

IOM International organization for migration, Bratislava

Willa Decius, Cracow

 

Donors:

European Migration Network   

International Visegrad Fund, Bratislava

US Embassy, Bratislava  

 

Period: July 18 - 30, 2011

 

About the Summer School

The 2nd edition of the Summer School of Ethnicity and Migration Studies has been a two-week educational program covering topics connected with nationalism and ethnicity, de-ethnization of the public sphere, migration and integration analysis, approaches and policies.

 

Topics connected to de-construction of national myths, analyses of public policies concerning minorities and discussions over desired migration policy models formed the core of the Summer school activities. Through debates, lectures and workshops, it presents a unique informal learning space for student from the Central European countries and creates space for the participants to get familiar with each other’s ideas and initiate international cooperation. Lectures and workshops held by highly qualified experts from the region has been complemented with topical study trips. The Summer school has been organized in a building of the Faculty of Social and Economic Science of the Comenius University in Bratislava.

 

Target group
The 2nd edition of the Summer School of Ethnicity and Migration Studies aimed to create an alternative learning platform for advanced studies for MA Students, PhD students, young researchers, young public officials from countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Working language of the School has been English.

 

Eligible countries:

Slovakia, Czech republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Turkey, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbajdzan. Participants from other countries could have participate as self-funders.

 

Application:

Application process for the 2nd edition of the Summer School has been opened between April 1 - May 2, 2011, accepted participants were informed on May 10, 2011.

 

Application package included:
• Application form duly filled and signed
• Motivation letter (not more than one A4 format page)
• CV
• Recommendations*
*Recommendations from one person (from the academia) familiar with the applicants work. Should be in English, printed on letterhead paper and bear the signature of the issuer. No special envelope is needed; recommendations should be simply attached to the application.

 

All of the materials are to be sent by postal service to:

"Summer School of Ethnicity and Migration studies"

CVEK

Klariská 14

811 03 Bratislava

Slovakia  

 

Moreover, an electronic copy of application form should be send to naglova@cvek.sk.

 

Costs

Registration fee for successful candidates has been 50 Euro. Costs of the program, study material, field trips as well as accommodation and board were covered by the organizer. Participants were responsible for their travel costs and insurance.

 

Participants from other than eligible countries could have participated as well - their registration fee was 500 Euro (covering travel and accommodation costs, catering, meals, study materials, and study trips).

 

Application form can be downloaded here 

 

Program of the 2nd edition of the Summer School here  

 

Summer School on the Facebook here 

 

Photo gallery can be downloaded here

Summer School V4 - 10th edition (2011)

July 3 - 16, 2011

Partners: Willa Decius Association Krakow;

Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky Praha;

Foundation Cracovia Expres Krakow.

 

Donor: International Visegrad Fund

  

Period: July 3 - 16, 2011 

 

In 2011 CVEK co-organized already 10th edition of the V4 Summer School in the Willa Decius in Krakow. The 10th edition of the Visegrad Summer School brought again together 50 young Czech, Hungarian, Polish, and Slovak students, as well as some students from other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The program consisted of lectures, panel debates and seminars on issues and challenges relevant to the Visegrad Group region, the European Union and beyond. School offered many opportunities to learn about each other and to start an international co-operation between the people and the countries.

 

The program of the tenth edition of the Visegrad Summer School included debates on current political, cultural and social challenges in the regional, global and European perspective. On the occasion of jubilee edition and the 20-th anniversary of the Visegrad Group, the open space discussion with the alumni representing all previous edition of the School has been organised. There was a chance to summarise transformation processes in V4 countries, achievements of the Visegrad Group as well as strengths and weaknesses of the integration – both regional and European. The participants were invited for study visit to Malopolska region, they also attended artistic events in Krakow and insight the culture of Poland.

 

The organizers provided: 
- educational program and materials
- special events
- accommodation and board

 

Participants covered:
- travel costs to/from/in Krakow
- their own insurance
- registration fee of 50 EURO

 

Call for applications for the Visegrad Summer School opened on March 1, 2011, the deadline for applications was March 31, 2011.

 

All of the materials (application form that contains also CV / letter of reference and motivation letter) are to be sent by postal service to:

"V4 Summer School 2011"

CVEK

Klariská 14

811 03 Bratislava

Slovakia  

 

Moreover, an electronic copy of application form should be send to naglova@cvek.sk.

 

Poster of the alumni week in the Willa here 

 

Poster of the 10th edition of the Summer School here

 

Application form for the 10th edition of the Summer School here

 

Photo gallery from the 10th edition of the Summer School here

Monitoring minority policies in Slovakia

Monitoring and advocacy project

 

Donor: Think-Tank Fund OSI

 

Period: December 2010 - December 2012

 

Project Monitoring minority policies in Slovakia has an ambition to fill in the domestic gap in monitoring minority policies with a broader objective changing the discourse on minorities and related policies. Project also complements existing periodical monitoring of international bodies. Saliently, CVEK is hoping to embark on processes that could help alternate minority rights debate, improve minority policies and increase political commitment necessary for their sustainment. The project is based on an idea that Slovakia shall no longer be constructed as a state owned by ethnic Slovaks, but as a multicultural country of all its citizens and permanent members to ensure the inclusion of minorities. The transformation would mean that minorities are no longer viewed as a danger to the majority and consequently to peace and stability. Instead, their claims should be viewed as a matter of justice and equality. Such discourse would open new innovative avenues for accommodating even the most deprived groups such as the Roma.

To achieve our objectives CVEK engages with research and monitoring of minority policies standards accompanied with advocacy activities to convey these policy changes through capacity building of relevant decision-makers; and participation in policies drafting.

 

CVEK experts draw on international minority rights, the Slovak constitutional law, and political theory of liberal pluralism to develop standards for monitoring. CVEK monitors how international standards contained in such important treaties as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities are observed and implemented. CVEK also evaluates developments in minority’ policies by reference to two foundational criteria of minority protection: peace and security, and human dignity, accepting that moving towards human dignity means progress. Developing minority rights through reference to human dignity also requires a contextual accommodation of diverse minority groups and their individual members given their multiple sources of identities.

 

Monitoring:

The project’s monitoring results in two main deliverables: a quarterly newsletter and an annual report on minority policies in Slovakia. Electronically issued quarterly Minority Policy in Slovakia timely informs, highlights, and provides a critical reflection on the most recent events in minority policies. The annual report, published in both Slovak and English language, provides both a grasp of broad trends as well as detailed and informed analysis of particular events based on developed minority rights standards. The annual report contains also one in-depth case study on a selected issue relating to minorities and minority policies and includes also a set of concrete policy recommendations.

 

Advocacy:

The advocacy component of the project employs two approaches: capacity building of relevant decision-makers through a series of workshops and participation in policies preparation. The objective of the workshops is to educate about various avenues on thinking about minority policies, explaining alternatives of minority policies and thus increasing their capacity to adopt sound policies. Additionally, through the workshops CVEK attempts to establish a channel of regular communication with state officials and politicians that create and influence minority policy following on the policy recommendations contained in the annual report.

 

The other segment of the advocacy strategy is directly focused on participation in policies drafting. Furthermore, CVEK would make use of state administration’s inter-departmental amendments procedure, which would allow us to submit our objections and suggestions and enter policies discourse before they are adopted by the government.

 

The objective of this project is large scale as it seeks to be one of the important elements in promoting fundamental changes to conceptualize Slovakia and its relationship to minorities. CVEK recognizes that our center and this project have limited capacity to investigate these changes and this agenda must be supported by at minimum a broader social movement of several stakeholders, including saliently minorities themselves to be successful. Challenge notwithstanding, CVEK believes that sustained and independent research monitoring accompanied with advocacy activities will contribute towards the development of inclusive, fair and context-sensitive policies for the diverse minority communities.  

  

At the beginning of May 2011 CVEK issued 1st volume of the critical quarterly MINORITY POLICIES IN SLOVAKIA. Quarterly is a part of the project Monitoring of the minority policies in Slovakia and critically evaluates topics of minority policies for first quarter of 2011. It focuses on issues such as double citizenship; amendments of a law on state language and on usage of minority languages; so-called Roma crime; regional elections from the perspective of Roma political participation; proposal of the law on aliens status, or on integration of migrants.

 

The first issue of the Quarterly MINORITY POLICIES IN SLOVAKIA can be downloaded here, the second one here, the third one here.   

Best practices for a coordinated approach to assist unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in EU countries

Qualitative research

Donor: European Refugee Fund, European Commisson 

 

Coordinator: IOM Budapest 

 

Partners in Slovakia: 

IOM Bratislava

Migration Office of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic

 

Period: January - December 2011  

 

The overall objective of this project has been to contribute to the creation of a common approach for better addressing the needs of vulnerable asylum seekers who are unaccompanied minors (UAMs) and former UAMs. This has been achieved through the following activities: implementation of an assessment in 10 targeted countries; drafting of the “Assessment and Recommendations for a Common Approach” report; organization of an international conference to discuss the assessment, its findings and the report; and creation of awareness raising leaflets targeting UAMs. This project targeted UAMs, former UAMs, organization who assist UAMs from their first reception to their integration, and government officials who deal with UAMs at a policy level.

 

To achieve this, the project has been devised in three phases:

 

Phase I: In order to establish a collaborative, common approach for addressing the needs of vulnerable asylum groups, a practical assessment that combines desk research, field interviews and discussion groups has been carried out. The first phase of the project has been finalized by the assessment of methodology.

 

Phase II: During the second phase of the project, IOM and project partners carried out the assessment. This included desk research identifying gaps in addressing specific integration needs of UAMs and former UAMs, evaluating shortcomings in the institutional capacity of those organizations providing assistance to the target groups, identifying whether any new projects or initiatives have emerged since previous assessments, and testing the level of attention authorities devote to these groups. Experts carried out field up to 45 interviews and working groups targeting UAMs, former UAMs, and assistance providers. After assessments were carried out country-specific reports were written. During this phase, the “Assessment and Recommendations for a Common Approach” report was written, which included the findings of the assessment, and, based on the findings, recommendations for a common approach for meeting the needs of UAMs and former UAMs that can be applied not only in participating countries, but throughout the EU.

 

Phase III: This report and the findings of the assessment were presented at an international conference in november 2011. Practitioners and policymakers from EU MS have been invited to participate in the presentations and discussions of the findings and recommendations for a common approach. The conference allowed stakeholders to share information, network, and discuss the next steps for the implementation of the recommended common approach. A report on the conference summarized the discussions and conclusions of the conference and has been disseminated electronically. The assessment findings were also used to create an information and awareness raising leaflet with key messages on UAMs’ rights and guidance for their future integration.

 

This project contributed to safeguarding the rights of the child as set out in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and in particular advance the principle of “the best interests of the child” as the underlying feature of the project’s common approach for meeting the needs of unaccompanied minors and former UAMs in the EU.

Right-wing extremism in Slovakia in perception of its inhabitants

Quantitative research

Donor: Open Society Foundation Bratislava 

 

Period: January - December 2011 

 

Based on request of the Open Society Foundation Bratislava CVEK conducted a quantitative survey of right-wing oriented extremism in Slovakia in perception of its inhabitants. Results of the research might offer broader chances to project ways of right-wing extremism spread-out in Slovakia and to prepare policies to face its existence. CVEK conducted a quantitative representative survey based on a questionnaire and qualitative survey in a form of four focus groups. 
 
CVEK research covered various topics connected to right-wing extremism:

1. Perception of right-wing extremism and extremists, knowledge of its displays, racism, and hate-crimes;
2. Associations of respondents on the notion of right-wing extremism;
3. Personal experiences with right-wing extremism;
4. Internal inter-connections of nationalism, banal nationalism, and ethno-centrism with right wing extremism; 
5. Testing of an anomy, alienation, lack of trust, and authoritarian personality as background of right-wing extremism spread-out;
6. Attitudes of public to political behavior of right-wing extremists (participation of extremists in politics);
7. Testing of respondents what do they consider acceptable in relation to various minority groups;
8. Testing of respondents, what approaches in relation to right-wing extremism would they prefer, or consider as an acceptable, and what measures do they consider efficient; 
9. Who is according to respondents a target group of right-wing extremists;
10. Perception of displays of right-wing extremism on internet;
11. Knowledge of right-wing extremism symbols.

National Populism in V4 Countries

Qualitative research

Donor: International Visegrad Fund  

 

Coordinator: International Institute of Political Science of Masaryk University 

 

Partners: Pedagogical University of Krakow 

Foundation Cracovia Expres 

 

Period: January - October 2011 

 

During last decade V4 countries face growth of influence of ethnic identity politics and consequently of national populism in V4 countries. In each V4 country we can encounter various features of national populism - activization of a far right scene, radicalization of public discourse, or concrete policies of state administration. All these factors make mutual coexistence and cooperation of V4 countries problematic.  

Project of the national populism and nationalism research in the Czech republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia has been based both on qualitative research (semi-structured interviews) and desk research of various institutions.  

 

1. Semi-structured interviews with:

a. All the relevant political parties (parliamentary parties since 1990);
b. Any other party considered important in the terms of this research;
c. NGOs, civil society movements, sport fan clubs, websites or informal groups: which are identified nationalistic by social discourse, by themselves, by academics etc.
d. Representatives of above mentioned parties and groups and proponents of the national ideology and nationalism;

 

2. Desk research - Political parties:
a. Manifestos, program documents;
b. Attitudes and voting in some major issues concerning national appeal (immigrants, Roma, sexual minorities, liberalism, Jews, national history, foreign powers);
c. Campaign /billboards, videos, slogans/;
d. Elections successes (%);
e. Geographical and demographical distribution of support;
f. Coalition potential, participation in government.

 

3. Desk research - Formal and informal groups:
a. Manifestos, program documents;
b. Attitudes in some major issues concerning national appeal (immigrants, Roma, sexual minorities, liberalism, Jews, national history, foreign powers);
c. Campaigning tools /billboards, videos, slogans/;
d. Number of members / supporters / in case of websites visitors;
e. Their relations to public institutions / access to power.

 

Project has been concluded by presentation of an academic publication and by organization of the international conference "Nationalism and Political Parties in Visegrad Countries" on October 18, 2011 at the Faculty of Social Studies of the Masaryk University in Brno.