Zaštita manjina zauzima jedno od ključnih mjesta u političkoj transformaciji istočnoeuropskih zemalja, a etnički odnosi i postupanje prema manjinama pokazali su se iznimno važnim pitanjem za sigurnost i stabilnost na Balkanu, posebno SR Jugoslavije. Perspektive za mir u ovoj državi u velikoj će mjeri ovisiti o sposobnosti pronalaska rješenja za probleme nacionalnih manjina. Svi jugoslavenski ustavi sadrže odredbe o manjinskim pravima, ali su vidljive bitne razlike u stupnju predviđene zaštite manjina. U njima se status manjina regulira kroz slobode i prava pojedinaca - pripadnika manjina. Status manjine kao kolektiviteta je uglavnom nereguliran, a mehanizmi zaštite zajedničkih prava su nedovoljno razvijeni. Hrvati kao autohtone i homogene skupine žive na prostoru današnje SRJ, u Republikama Srbiji i Crnoj Gori. U Srbiji je najveća koncentracija Hrvata na području AP Vojvodine, a nakon Kosovske krize Hrvata više nema na području Kosova. U Crnoj Gori Hrvati žive uglavnom na području Boke Kotarske. Raspadom SFRJ Hrvati u SRJ su se našli u položaju nacionalne manjine s činjenicom da im do danas taj status nije službeno priznat. Prema svim dosad primjenjivanim kriterijima u određivanju statusa manjine, Hrvati u SRJ su trebali steći ovo pravo i status, jer postojanje manjine sa svojim karakterističnim manjinskim obilježjima objektivna je činjenica koju nijedna država s europskim ambicijama ne može unedogled ignorirati.Protection of minorities forms one of the major issues in the political transformation of the East-European countries. Ethnic relations and treatment of minorities turned out to be an extremely important issue for security and stability in the Balkans and especially in the federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Prospects of peace in this country will depend to a large extent on the ability to find a solution for problems of the ethnic minorities. Each and every Constitution of Yugoslavia contains regulations about minority rights, but some substantial differences can be observed as regards to the level of the determined protection of minorities. They regulate the position of minorities in terms of liberties and rights of individuals-members of minority. The position of minority as a collectivity is generally not regulated and the mechanisms of protection of common rights are underdeveloped. Croats as the native and homogeneous groups dwell on the area of the present Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, i.e. in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Monte Negro. The greatest concentration of Croats in Serbia is in the area of the Vojvodina Autonomous Province. After the crisis in Kosovo there are no more Croats left in the Kosovo area. As for Monte Negro, Croats there live mainly in the district of Boka Kotorska. After the downfall of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the Croats who live in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have found themselves in a position of the ethnic minority. However, up to the present day they do not have this status officially recognized. According to the criteria applied so far in determination of status of minority, the Croats in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should have obtained this right and status because the existence of a minority along with its characteristic minority features is an objective fact which no country with European ambition can ignore indefinitely
