How can democratization, coupled with transnational integration, resolve conflicts over cultural difference in places that are marked by legacies of nationalist competition? This book explores that question through a comparative study of contestations over language use in the heart of the post-Communist region.
Talk of the Nation breaks new ground by focusing on both majority and minority political elites and parties in interethnic relations. I challenge arguments about the overwhelming importance of international influence. This book demonstrates that the role of domestic political actors in interethnic reconciliation is not merely that of “compliance” with international requirements or “effectiveness” in responding to external pressure—they are largely guided by the internal democratic process. (Read More)