Minority Multidimensionality: Perceptions of Political Minority Status and Deservingness Across European Democracies

The academic literature that deals with minorities is as disconnected as it is extensive. Minorities and their rights are debated in research related to political science, international relations and public policy—each of which, however, relies on slightly different conceptualizations of minorities. We address this incongruity by investigating how overlapping dimensions impact perceptions of political minority status and deservingness of protection in a democratic system. Given recent cultural developments and political debates related to social identities and corresponding systems of discrimination, we take an intersectional approach to understanding political minorities. We supplement an original public opinion survey with innovative measurement strategies fielded in 15 European countries with customized conjoints in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Our findings contribute to the vast literature on minorities by providing an empirical reconciliation of existing theoretical definitions. Furthermore, our results offer important insights into the biases that drive commitment to a fundamental liberal principle when it is pitted against the traditional democratic notion of popular sovereignty.