INDIGENOUS RIGHTS VS. MINORITY RIGHTS. THE CASE OF THE NORWEGIAN SAMI
Corresponding author:
[email protected]
Accepted
28 March 2026
Available Online
15 July 2015
Abstract
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND CONTROVERSIAL SECTORS OF SECURITY, ACCORDING TO THE COPENHAGEN SCHOOL, IS THE SOCIETAL SECURITY, WHERE THE REFERENCE OBJECT IS IDENTITY, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS BASED ON CERTA IN CHARACTERISTICS. THUS, MINORITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HAVE DEVELOPED A COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS AND BEGAN TO REJECT THE ASSIMILATION PROCESS IN FAVOR OF IDENTITY CONSOLIDATION AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION. THEREFORE, MULTICULTURAL STATES HAVE A DIFFICUL T TASK, THAT OF ENSURING EQUALITY OF CITIZENS WITHOUT IMPEDING, IN ANY WAY, THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OF MINORITIES OR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INHABITING THEIR COUNTRY. THIS IS THE CASE OF NORWAY, SUPPORTER OF CULTURAL PLURALISM, WHICH INTENDS TO ACCOMMODATE TH E PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS IN THE NATIONAL SYSTEM, IN ORDER TO CAPITALIZE THE POTENTIAL OF THE SAMI POPULATION, A COMPLETE AND COMPLEX CULTURE, PART OF THE NATIONAL HERITAGE. BUT THE SAMI ARE A MINORITY AND AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME, HENCE THE CONTROVERSY CREATED AS MINORITY AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ARE SIMILAR, BUT NOT IDENTICAL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO POINT OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDIGENOUS AND MINORITY RIGHTS, FOCUSING ON HOW THE NORWEGIAN STATE HAS CHOSEN TO A DDRESS THE STATUS OF ITS SAMI POPULATION.
Keywords
MINORITY
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
IDENTITY
MINORITY AND INDIGENOUS
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