Introduction to the Special Issue ‘The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities: Three Levels of Work over Thirty Years’

Abstract

International institutions often operate in a range of concentric circles. The activities and pronouncements of their leaders generally grab the biggest headlines. Meanwhile, their staffs, offices, and departments work tirelessly behind the scenes, but they also project important ripples through work with broader communities, civil society, and the public. Lastly, the effort that these institutions put in over the long term might see instruments come into place that help to build international legal order for future generations.

The three articles proposed in this special issue echo this model as it relates to one particular international institution, the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) at the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).