[Table ronde] Book Presentation of Jan Rovny: Ethnic Minorities, Political Competition, and Democracy: Circumstantial Liberals

This is a roundtable discussing a recent book on the political preferences and behavior of ethnic minorities. The book demonstrates that permanent minorities champion rights and liberties protecting them the tyranny of the majority. This translates into broader ideological preferences and political behavior, inducing the formation of liberal political poles on the one hand, and illiberal opposition on the other. This dynamic is system forming, as it configures political cleavages, shapes party systems, and informs the absorption of new political issues. Ultimately, the presence of ethnic minorities can be a force for liberal democracy. 

To launch the discussion Jan Rovny will briefly present the core argument of the book, as well as new work studying the democratic support of historical and migrant ethnic minorities across Europe, showing that ostracized ethnic minorities -- viewed as a cultural or political threat by significant portions of the majority -- are more likely to support counter-majoritarian aspects of democracy. We will then discuss how the theory and arguments of the book apply to the context in France. 

Chair

Nonna Mayer, Sciences Po, CEE, CNRS

Speakers

• Jan Rovny, Sciences Po, CEE
• Mirna Safi, Sciences Po, CRIS
• Vincent Tiberj, Sciences Po Bordeaux 

Interview of Jan Rovny - "Ethnic minorities can be a positive asset for democracy"