{"id":30486,"date":"2024-08-01T14:06:04","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T13:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pluriel.fuce.eu\/videos\/cosmopolitanism-and-minority-rights-going-beyond-the-protection-of-ethnoreligious-minorities-in-the-middle-east\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T19:42:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T18:42:08","slug":"cosmopolitanism-and-minority-rights-going-beyond-the-protection-of-ethnoreligious-minorities-in-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"videos","link":"https:\/\/pluriel.fuce.eu\/en\/videos\/cosmopolitanism-and-minority-rights-going-beyond-the-protection-of-ethnoreligious-minorities-in-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmopolitanism and minority rights: going beyond the protection of ethnoreligious minorities in the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"

This communication challenges traditional approaches to ethnoreligious diversity in the Middle East, arguing that the focus on “protecting minority rights” is inadequate. It demonstrates how these approaches maintain the status quo and exclude marginalized communities. Drawing on Saba Mahmood’s critique of state neutrality and Kwame Anthony Appiah’s concept of cosmopolitanism, it combines the lived experiences of ethnoreligious communities with perspectives from feminist, disability, and queer studies. These fields, often neglected in discussions of minority rights in the region, offer valuable insights into marginalization and alternative pathways. The article advocates for an interdisciplinary approach that values diversity, promotes shared belonging, and rejects assimilation. It emphasizes the need to challenge structures that perpetuate marginalization and recognizes the rights and autonomy of all individuals and groups within society, drawing on research in constitutional law and minority rights, as well as field experience in Egypt, Syria, and Iraq.
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Summary by Pluriel<\/em><\/p>\n

This presentation explores how cultural studies approaches can be applied to the issue of ethno-religious minority rights in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq.<\/p>\n

H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Rey structures her reflection around three concepts:<\/p>\n

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  1. Domination: Traditional approaches to minority rights, based on legal protection, can sometimes reinforce existing hierarchies. The example of Decree 251 in Iraq on the Syriac language illustrates how granted rights can be revoked.<\/li>\n
  2. Resistance: It can take several forms:\n
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    • Political participation (e.g., Pascale Werder)<\/li>\n
    • Visible cultural resistance (e.g., Yazidi children in traditional attire)<\/li>\n
    • Continuous presence (e.g., families returning to Sinjar)<\/li>\n
    • Coalition building (e.g., Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Solidarity: Creating networks between different marginalized communities can be a form of resistance, even if these coalitions are imperfect.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The researcher highlights the limitations of approaches based solely on inclusion or quotas, which can reinforce the otherness of minority groups. Instead, she proposes a cosmopolitan approach, inspired by Kwame Anthony Appiah, based on conversation and engagement with the experience of others.<\/p>\n

      However, she suggests going further by basing these conversations not on finding common ground, but on recognizing differences as a starting point. The goal would be to build a shared world where everyone has a place, with differences neither minimized nor maximized, but simply present and recognized as integral parts of pluralistic societies.<\/p>\n