ABSTRACT
An important task of a democratic society is to make sure that all its members have enough opportunities to participate in public life and make their voice heard. Civic participation is essential especially in the case of ethnic minority members who face rejection by the majority. The civic participation of these people is restricted not only by objective obstacles, such as the language barrier, but by psychological obstacles as well. Participation in public life can be very diffi cult if people do not feel good in the greater society and feel that the majority society does not accept them. However, if members of ethnic minorities are not involved in political decision-making and do not assert their interests, it is possible that decisions which are made only reduce their status. The growing civic passivity of ethnic minorities and their worsening status in society can easily result in a vicious circle which leads to a feeling of frustration and mutual alienation between the social groups. Therefore supporting civic participation of minority members, especially the disadvantaged, is not only a realization of an abstract democratic ideal, but also an essential step to providing more long-term social stability.
