On language wars in the countries of the former Soviet Union Peculiarities of separatism in Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia
Bibliographic Information
- Other Title
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- 旧ソ連圏諸国における言語戦争について―モルドバ、ウクライナ、グルジアにおける分離主義の特殊性―
- キュウ ソレンケン ショコク ニ オケル ゲンゴ センソウ ニ ツイテ : モルドバ 、 ウクライナ 、 グルジア ニ オケル ブンリ シュギ ノ トクシュセイ
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Abstract
In this article, we briefly examine the development of the language situation in three members of the former USSR ― Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. A legal document analysis approach will be privileged with much emphasis placed on the status of the Russian language. We begin with the era of the so-called "language revolutions" of 1989 before examining situations of acute language conflict as well as the current situation. In all three cases, the lack of flexibility in language policy led to a violation of the language preferences of many citizens, which in turn inspired citizen-led protests; confrontations with the authorities; and in some cases armed conflicts. Protracted conflicts led to separatism, which was ultimately parlayed by the people into a counter reaction against the authorities’ miscalculations in language policy. Obviously, language problems were not the only cause of armed conflicts and territorial separatism; however, they were the basis for mass discontent among people whose language rights were violated. The aggravation of language problems was caused by the nationalism of the titular nations of the above-mentioned countries. The centrifugal tendencies of the former USSR were the result of the following: regional separatism; confrontational interactions with the central governments of member countries; self-centered behavior of local elites; nationalism as an effective means of mobilizing the population; the systematic violation of minorities’ linguistic rights; and general political disorder. In the unrecognized (partially recognized) countries that arose as a result of armed conflicts, the language situation reverted to the Soviet-era paradigm, with the absolute predominance of the use of Russian language.
Journal
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- NUIS Journal of International Studies
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NUIS Journal of International Studies 6 43-53, 2021-04-01
新潟国際情報大学国際学部
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Keywords
Details 詳細情報について
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- CRID
- 1050007292654264960
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- NII Article ID
- 120007116961
- 40022635244
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- NII Book ID
- AA12723576
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- ISSN
- 21895864
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- NDL BIB ID
- 031589479
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- Text Lang
- ja
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- Article Type
- departmental bulletin paper
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- Data Source
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- IRDB
- NDL
- CiNii Articles