Language, Identity, Politics in the Post-Soviet Space and the Balkans (in English)
In this course we will investigate the relationship between language, identity, and politics in post-Soviet and Balkan countries and examine the role that language has played in the region’s violent conflicts. We will look at the wars accompanying the dissolution of Yugoslavia and investigate how linguistic issues played into the post-Soviet development of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Estonia. We also will trace the link between language laws and current violence in Ukraine. Drawing on a combination of academic writing and cultural artifacts, we will illuminate issues such as linguistic nationalism, language laws, rights of minority languages, language discrimination, language and religion, alphabet issues, and language and dialect as ethnic identity. No knowledge of Russian required. (LNGT 0102 recommended) 3 hrs lect./disc.