Ethnic Conflicts and Civil Society: Proposals for a New Era in Eastern Europe - Proposals for a New Era in Eastern Europe

Education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is crucial for taking advantage of the prospects of new scientific discoveries initiating or promoting technological changes, and managing opportunities and risks associated with innovations. This book explores the emerging perspectives and methodologies of STEM education and its relationship to the cultural understanding of science and technology in an international context. The authors provide a unique perspective on the subject, presenting materials and experiences from non-European industrialized as well as industrializing countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Egypt, Brazil and the USA. The chapters offer a wide scope of interpretations and comparative reviews of STEM education by including narrative elements about cultural developments, considering the influence of culture and social perceptions on technological and social change, and applying innovative tools of qualitative social research. The book represents a comprehensive and multidisciplinary review of the current status and future challenges facing STEM education across the world, including issues such as globalization, interdependencies of norms and values, effects on equity and social justice as well as resilience. Overall the volume provides valuable insights for a broad and comprehensive international comparison of STEM philosophies, approaches and experiences. Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Editors and Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Preface -- I INTRODUCTION -- 1 Ethnic Conflicts and Cooperation Among and Within States -- II THEORETICAL APPROACHES -- 2 Conflicts Between Different Nationalities: Chances for and Limits to Their Settlement -- 3 Reducing Ethnic Conflicts: Contemporary Approaches to Conflict Resolution in Western Europe -- III CASE STUDIES: DOMESTIC EXPERIENCES OF ETHNIC CONFLICTS -- 4 Temptations of Transition and Identity Crisis in Post-Communist Countries: The Example of Former Yugoslavia -- 5 Autonomy as One of the Means of Minorities' Protection: The Case of Slovenia -- 6 Ethnic Conflicts in Croatia? -- 7 Ethnic Politics in Ukraine -- 8 The Relationship Between the Majority and the Minority in a Composed Region: The Case of Vojvodina -- 9 The Media: Social Constructions in Inter-Ethnic Communication in Romania -- IV CASE STUDIES: DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCES OF SUCCESSFUL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT -- 10 Ethnic Coexistence and Cooperation in Switzerland -- 11 Conflict and Integration: The Main Principles of Social Cohesion in the United States -- V SYNOPSIS -- 12 Ethnic Cooperation and Coexistence: International Mediation, International Governance, and Civil Society for Ethnically Plural States "This title was first published in 2000: The papers presented in this volume are based on the discussions of a workshop which asked: how can ethnic and political cooperation be accomplished in ethnically and politically heterogeneous countries after the collapse of the communist regimes which left a void for nationalist and even chauvinist movements? The objectives are: to promote a better understanding of the contemporary "ethnic" conflicts and their social, cultural and political causes; to determine the historical, structural and political developments that have led to or intensified these conflicts; to analyze and develop positive role models for coping with such conflicts; to provide constructive proposals for future conflict resolution mechanisms; and to identify the crucial elements for building trust-generating institutions on the basis of the civil society model. The papers address ethnic conflicts in Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on the former republics of Yugoslavia. They aim to go beyond the analysis of causes and manifestations of such conflicts and to offer constructive ideas for the post-Civil-War period."--Provided by publisher