Peter Jordan et al.: Ethnisches Bewusstsein in Mittel- und Südosteuropa um 2000 = Ethnic Consciousness in Central and Southeast Europe around 2000. Begleittext (deutsch u. englisch). Atlas Ost- und Südosteuropa 2.9 - G9. Hg. Österreichisches Ost- und Südosteuropa-Institut. Berlin, Stuttgart 2007. 88 S.
The map of this publication is made by PETER JORDAN (Vienna), KÁROLY KOCSIS (Budapest) and five other authors as well as by eight editors conducted by PETER JORDAN. Ethnic consciousness is understood as self-declaration of the persons to ethnic and national groups questioned in a population census. Altogether 40 different ethnic and national groups by name and some more else by the remaining category "Others" are recorded concerning 19 European countries and the Russian region of Kaliningrad. The numbers of the members of the ethnic and national groups are represented by circular diagrams subdivided by sectors. The colour markings of the different groups follow the current ethno-linguistic classification method that is according to linguistic kinship. The spatial allocation refers for the most part to administrative units of the EU size category NUTS-4, regarding Italy and Romania to NUTS-3 level units. A few areas (Greece, Turkey and the Serb Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina) could not be dealt thematically on the map because of lack of census data. The population is allocated according to their main place of residence. All in all the map is a great success, even though the distinction of the colour markings of 41 ethnic and national groups is not always easy, and the sizes of the sectors of the circular diagrams are sometimes hard to read. Such problems arise above all in the case of the representation of small minorities.The accompanying text consists of a relatively detailed introduction (given by PETER JORDAN) and of reports on 19 countries and a special region (Kaliningrad). Apart from PETER JORDAN and KÁROLY KOCSIS there are seven more authors from five different countries. PETER JORDAN shows a constructivistic perspective because he does not present the ethnic and national groups as natural units. He studies very clearly the development of the ethnic and national consciousness in connection with processes of social change running since the period of a static agrarian society, and in connection with the historico-cultural development of ideas on (cultural) nation, ethnic groups and nationalities until today. He analyses precisely the differences between the terms of ethnic and national groups and nationalities on the one side and of nation on the other side. The explications on subjectivity and changeability of ethnic respectively national declaration as well as the notes on the historic, actual and future role of ethnic and national minorities are very important, too. The factors threatening and favouring the existence of minorities are described systematically. However, there is a lack of references in the course of the presentation. A formulation as "current opinion" should be completed by concrete references. But the methodological explication concluding the introduction offers an excellent view into concept and production of the map. The explanation given within the regional part of the accompanying text goes as a rule far beyond a map interpretation. It contains a lot of information on the number, history, spatial pattern and the juridical situation as well as on political and social problems of the studied ethnic groups and nationalities of the different countries. Relatively many references including internet sources are attached to the regional chapters that are outside the presentation. Like concerning the introduction, also in the course of these chapters there is a lack of references. But on the whole, the accompanying text offers a great and indisputable assistance to read the map.
On balance, the result of the review is the following one: Everybody who is interested in ethnic groups and nationalities of Europe should use this publication. Everybody who deals with such groups of other parts of the world can gain methodically a large profit by studying it.
Autor: Wilfried Heller