ABSTRACT
Security is a key field of government action, with repercussions in several policy areas, including accommodation of diversity and migration. Since the late 1990s, following the broadening and deepening of the security studies agenda, many scholars have applied its insights to the field of minority issues. While states tend to address minorities primarily as a security problem, scholars have been seeking to de-securitise the discourse on minorities—both new migrants and old national minority communities. In light of these dynamics, this chapter explores the interplay between minority protection, migrant integration, and security issues, focusing on the concept of de-securitisation and its what, how and why. It will discuss the theoretical underpinnings of de-securitisation and its interactions with related notions such as security and securitisation, showing how the concept of de-securitisation provides a new comprehensive perspective to address minority issues. I offer practical examples of both old and new minorities, which, though traditionally distinguished in the literature, present similar characteristics and dynamics and can be analysed through a common security lens. Finally, the chapter will suggest a method for reconciling legitimate security concerns with a de-securitisation agenda, by overcoming the ‘us vs them’ dichotomy of state-majorities and minorities.
