National cultural autonomy and linguistic rights in Central and Eastern Europe

The theory and practice of national cultural autonomy (NCA) are examined from the perspective of national minorities’ linguistic rights in four countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE): Hungary, Estonia, Serbia and Russia. The idea of NCA dates back to the end of the nineteenth century and is based on the principle of ethnic communities’ autonomy—within a multi-ethnic state—to manage their own linguistic and cultural affairs. The notion of NCA was rediscovered in the 1990s and incorporated into the law and practice of the said four countries. Using a comparative approach, the chapter reflects upon NCA’s potential contribution in advancing the linguistic rights of national minorities in CEE. It concludes that, while the actual autonomy afforded to minority institutions in CEE is often restricted, NCA may serve as a platform to articulate concerns of great salience to national minorities, encompassing minority participation and multilingual education

National cultural autonomy in Central and Eastern Europe: Challenges and possibilities

The chapter examines the law and practice of national cultural autonomy (NCA) from the perspective of participation of national minorities in four countries in Central and Eastern Europe: Estonia, the Russian Federation, Hungary and Serbia. It considers both the levels of autonomy of NCA institutions, and their co-decision-making competences with government structures. On the basis of qualitative data from the authors’ fieldwork, the chapter shows that, while NCA has had only a marginal role in furthering democratic pluralism in the region, its practice provides insights on the internal nuances and complexity of NCA institutions. Significant variations emerge with reference to type of national minority, political priorities and historical legacies, highlighting the importance of minority-centred and flexible approaches to NCA. Finally, the chapter considers how lessons from Central and Eastern Europe may be relevant in developing a framework for the accommodation of Turkey’s Kurdish community which incorporates NCA elements