Artikel

Minderheidssituatie en emancipatiegedachte

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Abstract

The situation of minorities and the idea of emancipation - The notion of emancipation is one of the leading ideas of our time, in everyday politics and ethics as well as in various branches of science such as philosophy, sociology and psychology. Its influence extends to very different groups called or calling themselves minorities. In this paper an attempt is made to define the concept of minority, to describe the situation of such groups, and to survey the explanations which have been proposed for this situation, in order to understand the strategics of emancipation. A sociological minority is defined as a group within a given social structure, which is subject to discrimination and/or prejudice from a more powerful group on the ground of real or presumed differences which are used as criterion of grouping (much importance is given to such aspects of the problem as grouping, labelling, relative power). The consequences of the minority situation for the individual and for the group are strongly ambivalent feelings (self-contempt and pride, group-binding and group-breaking forces). Although he fully recognizes the advantages of a multicausal theory, the author has stressed sociological factors (power, competition, economical threat, manipulation) more than psychological ones (insecurity, authoritarianism, frustration). He prefers to use a conflict model for the description of that society where minority problems arise and exist. It is suggested that prejudice could develop in order to justify existing discriminations. Emancipation is defined as the liberation from the dependence on the forces of nature and from man-made restraints. All efforts to that end may be considered as attempts to induce social change, although minorities may react in different ways (acceptance, avoidance, aggression). Emancipation strategics show several tendencies. In this paper they are grouped by means of two series of contrasts: assimilation against the desire to maintain one’s identity, and reform-ideas against revolutionary perspectives in protest movements. It is suggested that these contrasts need not be absolute, but can be seen as different stages of the emancipation process.

How to Cite:

Carlier, B., (1974) “Minderheidssituatie en emancipatiegedachte”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 19(4), 389–412. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95983