Direkte Demokratie und Sprachminderheiten in der Schweiz und in Sudtirol - Ein Vergleich = Direct democracy and minority language in Switzerland and South Tyrol - a comparison. EDAP 2/2010
Do procedures of direct democracy involve fundamental dangers with regard to social, ethno-linguistic and religious minorities? Is there even a conflict between popular decision-making by initiative and referendum and the requirement of interethnic consociational democratic procedures? The article focuses on the existing tension and supposed contradictions between procedures of direct democracy (initiative and referendum) and the protection of rights and interests of minorities in multilingual areas. Drawing upon some recent examples of such kind in four Swiss bi- or multilingual cantons and in South Tyrol the author compares these experiences and discusses the crucial issue whether such a conflict can be solved and which special precautions should be established when it comes to apply direct democracy in multilingual areas. Eventually he presents a new approach about how civil rights to direct political participation, enshrined in Italy's constitution and South Tyrol's autonomy statute, could be brought into concordance with the need to respect the equality of fundamental rights of linguistic groups within a multilingual polity, which is currently debated in South Tyrol's politics.
Five Years of Constitutional Jurisprudence in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A First Balance. EDAP paper, 7/2004
The article reflects the experiences of the author after having served as one of the three international judges of the Constitutional Court of BiH from 1997 to 2002. Based on the relevant case-law of the Constitutional Court it gives a basic overview of the constitutional structure of BiH and analyses the position of the Court vis-a-vis other institutions established under the Dayton-Agreement and the powers of judicial review and human rights protection based on its appellate jurisdiction. Moreover means of interpretation and the elements of constitutional doctrine elaborated through case-law as well as organisational and procedural matters such as the role of dissenting opinions are discussed. In conclusion the article reflects the role of the Constitutional Court in transition from an ethnically divided and war-torn society to democracy and the effective protection of human and minority rights.
Can family language policy predict linguistic, socio-emotional and cognitive child and family outcomes? A systematic review
Multilingual families face decisions about the linguistic upbringing of their children. These decisions shape their family language policy (FLP) which potentially impacts the children and their fam...