ECMI Research

Culture & Diversity

Is diversity a societal asset or a key challenge to integration and social cohesion? What are the mechanisms that foster societal cohesion of culturally diverse societies? What are the challenges to, and the prospects for, ensuring minority rights in education, media, and language policies?

Through a number of research angles, the Cluster addresses one of the key challenges that societies and governments face today – the management of cultural diversity. Acknowledging the visibility and variety of cultural conflicts globally, the research programme departs from the assumption that “cultural differences such as language, religion, traditions and ethnicity are non-negotiable, but being politically relevant they have significant potential to fuel tensions if manipulated or abused”.The Cluster therefore aims to contribute to the understanding of such conflicts and to policy-making processes conducive to intercultural dialogue and societal cohesion shaping contemporary democracies, human and cultural rights.

Head of Cluster

Kyriaki Topidi

Senior Researcher

Further Information

News from the Cluster

2025-10-30

Promoting Intercultural Dialogue through Digital Storytelling

The Denmark-Germany border region is home to Danish, German, Sinti & Roma and North Frisian minorities – a place shaped by shifting borders and history, today seen as a model for peaceful coexistence.Our former intern Sophie Cooper (University of St Andrews) collected personal stories from members of some communities. Through interviews, she transformed their lived experiences into short digital stories (2–5 minutes), combining voice, images, and music. These stories explore identity, belonging, and life between cultures. 👉 The videos invite you to listen, watch, and reflect on what it means to live as a minority across borders.

UPDATE: 

We are delighted to announce that the project “Promoting Intercultural Dialogue through Digital Storytelling” has been selected as a winner of the Student Minority Projects Challenge 2025, organized by the Academic Network for Minority Issues

As part of the award, Sophie Cooper and Dr. Kyriaki Topidi have been invited to present their work at the UN Forum for Minority Issues in Geneva, taking place on 27–28 November 2025. The award ceremony will be held by UN Special Rapporteur Nicolas Levrat and Governor Arno Kompatscher of the Province of South Tyrol.

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2023-07-21

Intersectionality Workshop: Minority Women and Intersectionality: A Renewed Research Agenda?

ECMI`s research cluster Culture & Diversity recently held a running Intersectionality Workshop titled Minority Women and Intersectionality: A Renewed Research Agenda?

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2023-05-23

Call for Papers - Deadline Extended: Workshop "Minority Women and Intersectionality: A Renewed Research Agenda?"

We are looking for paper proposals for our workshop Minority Women and Intersectionality: A Renewed Research Agenda? in Flensburg on on 10-11 July 2023. We have extended the deadline for abstract submissions to 30 May.

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2023-05-05

Expert Workshop on the War in Ukraine and its Impact on Ethno-Religious Minorities in the Region Held at the ECMI

The European Centre for Minority Issues hosted a two-day expert workshop on May 4-5, 2023. The workshop aimed to provide a platform for academics, researchers, and experts to share their insights and discuss the ongoing conflict's impact on the ethno-religious minorities in Ukraine.

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