Europe and the Politics of Language

Do political boundaries impact on concepts of language? How significant is language for citizenship in contemporary Europe? Can disputed languages acquire full status? Should non-European languages receive recognition from the EU? These are among the many questions explored in this new study of official, regional and disputed languages in an ever-changing European context. Broad policy issues and the performance of the range of instruments of policy at local, national and European levels are illustrated with reference to case studies across Europe.

MÁIRÉAD NIC CRAITH is Professor of Irish Culture and Language at the University of Ulster, UK. She has published extensively on languages and cultures in Europe and was joint winner of the 2004 Ruth Jena Michaelis Research Prize for folk life. Máiréad has worked closely with different European organizations including the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages.