Language, Identity, and Conflict

1
Language, Identity, and Conflict

• Chapter 9 Language movements, ethnic
  mobilisation and the state

2
What are the primary sources of conflict in
Europe today?
3
What are the primary sources of conflict in
Europe today?

• Ethnicity, which also involves language issues
• Because language is an issue that can be
  addressed, if we understand the source of
  conflict, resolution may be possible

4
Language conflict

• Language relates to the Western European
  phenomenon of ethnic separatism which arises
  due to 19th c nation-building goals
• Identity entire populace involved in national
  state community
• Legitimacy acceptance of state authority
• Participation more people involved in politics
• Distribution equal access to resources
• Penetration operation of state extends to
  periphery

5
Language conflict, contd.

• These conditions threaten minorities with
  assimilation and they respond with ethnic
  separatism
• Preconditions of ethnic separatism
• Homeland
• Cultural basis
• Opposition groups associated with threats to the
  group
• Language is a political resource, and asserting
  language also asserts economic/political status

6
Language conflict, contd.

• Language is a factor only in conflicts that are
  ethnic, and language is key to managing and
  resolving such conflicts
• Such conflicts arise because the nation-state
  does not address the issues of ethnic groups

7
Language conflict post-USSR

• Former USSR has generated many such conflicts
  because in the power vacuum after the collapse of
  the Soviet state, there has been an attempt to
  build new nation-states to assert ethnic and
  linguistic identities. The new post-Soviet
  nations adopted the template of a culturally
  homogeneous and sovereign nation-state. They
  asserted their majority languages and suppressed
  Russian.

8
Language conflict post-Yugoslavia

• A land at a crossroads of collapsing empires,
  Serbs and Croats believe they speak different
  languages despite claims to the contrary,
  Albanian vs. Serbian and Macedonian continues to
  be an issue, as is the distinction of Macedonian
  vs. Bulgarian
• Note parallel of German vs. French nation-states
  and mutual distrust and deprecation

9
EU

• EU shows that other models, not just
  nation-state, are possible, that authority can be
  multi-tiered and not linked to nation

10
Language in conflict theory

• Non-negotiable basic human needs which can be a
  source of conflict if suppressed
• Physical psychological security
• Basic survival needs
• Identity needs
• Economic needs
• Political participation
• Freedom

11
Language in conflict theory, contd.

• A society with multiple communities is more
  likely to develop protracted social conflicts
• But almost all societies (nation-states) have
  more than one ethnic group, and that doesnt
  explain conflict, conflict must also involve some
  unequal distribution of resources unequal
  access to control governance

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Language in conflict theory, contd.

• Basic human needs are not limited to biological
  needs
• The need to have an identity and be respected in
  that identity is also a basic need
• Cultural identity is variously distributed, along
  with it sets of beliefs that have direct impact
  on how interests, resources, and power are
  perceived
• Culture is essential to understanding power

13
Conclusions

• Language is a need which related to issues of
  identity, ideology, resources, and governance.
• Language plays a role in cultural basis of a
  group and in material needs.
• Language is both a socio-political resource and a
  need.