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Aleksandar Tolnauer
Episode · #616

EKUMENA I ETIKA U POSLOVANJU Aleksandar Tolnauer

Guest Aleksandar TolnauerHosted by Augustin BašićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

For two decades, Aleksandar Tolnauer was the only president of Croatia’s Council for National Minorities, a body established to navigate the complex integration of 22 minority groups into a society still grappling with a wartime past. His tenure spanned the country's entry into the European Union, a period when the legal framework for minority rights was not just a domestic concern but an international condition. He speaks plainly about the challenges of fostering dialogue and understanding when, as he puts it, “we are overburdened with history.” This conversation explores the often-unseen work of balancing the preservation of distinct identities with the imperative of national cohesion, particularly for groups like the Serbian minority and the Roma, who face persistent prejudice. Tolnauer’s insights cut through political rhetoric to reveal the practicalities of building an inclusive society. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how legal frameworks, cultural initiatives, and persistent advocacy shape the lived experience of minorities, and the long road ahead for any nation reconciling its past with its pluralistic future.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The Constitutional Law on National Minorities was a non-negotiable condition for Croatia's entry into the European Union. Sometimes, the most difficult domestic reforms are only achieved when tied to a larger, external aspiration that makes inaction impossible.
02
The Council for National Minorities was established not merely to protect rights, but to ensure active minority participation in public life and to propose policy solutions. A representative body's true power isn't just in its mandate, but in its ability to become an indispensable partner to the highest levels of government.
03
When addressing prejudice against groups like the Roma, Tolnauer highlights their cultural contributions, from brass bands and clarinet to flamenco and jazz guitar. Shifting a negative narrative isn't always about defending; sometimes, it's about revealing a history of unexpected enrichment.
04
Croatia's society remains “overburdened with history,” as Tolnauer puts it, where past events are often reinterpreted by different sides. This manipulation of historical narratives, rather than the events themselves, is often the true obstacle to social acceptance and inclusion.
05
Tolnauer notes that while political issues often project through religious differences, his conversations with top religious leaders — from Cardinal Bozanić to Mufti Hasanović — revealed little inherent conflict. The problem isn't often theological; it's when political agendas co-opt religious identity to create division.
06
With 22 national minorities, the Council wasn't just a top-down body but integrated local government, civil society, and parliamentary representatives. The ability to shape legislation and implement constitutional rights often depends on building a multi-layered structure that connects grassroots needs to national policy.
07
When discussing funding for Roma organizations like Kali Sara, Tolnauer emphasizes that support is tied to specific programs and criteria, not merely to identity. True empowerment comes from investing in concrete initiatives, not from an entitlement based solely on group affiliation.
08
To understand the complex challenges faced by Roma today—from employment and education to housing and healthcare—Tolnauer recommends Isabel Fonseca's "Bury Me Standing." The most effective solutions often require a deep dive into historical context and specific transitional dynamics, rather than superficial interventions.
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