Authored Book

Elites, Language and the Politics of Identity: The Norwegian case in Comparative Perspective

Details

Citation

Bucken-Knapp G (2003) Elites, Language and the Politics of Identity: The Norwegian case in Comparative Perspective. SUNY series in National Identities. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. http://www.sunypress.edu/p-3723-elites-language-and-the-politic.aspx

Abstract
Uses Norway to test the claim that elites are central to the politicization of linguistic conflict.Why and when do linguistic cleavages within a nation become politicized? Using Norway—where language has played a particularly salient role in the nation’s history—as a case study, Gregg Bucken-Knapp explores these questions and challenges the notion that the politicization of language conflict is a response to language problems. He shows that political elites often view language conflict as a political opportunity, placing it on the policy agenda as an effective mobilizing tool to serve their own nonlinguistic political ends. Although language-oriented interest groups may fight to achieve desired language policies, they are generally unsuccessful when their preferences clash with the broader objectives of political elites. This book focuses on understanding just how language policies emerge.

Keywords
language policy; norway; coalitions; electoral politics

StatusPublished
Title of seriesSUNY series in National Identities
Publication date31/12/2003
PublisherState University of New York Press
Publisher URLhttp://www.sunypress.edu/…the-politic.aspx
Place of publicationAlbany, NY
ISBN0791456552