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Language Politics in Contemporary Central Asia: National and Ethnic Identity and the Soviet Legacy
Nationalist leaders in the former Soviet states strive for national identity in both the political and cultural domains. Their language policies contend with Russian-speaking intelligentsias, numerous ethnic minorities and sizeable Russian communities backed by the Russian Federation - all presenting major challenges to facing the legacy of Soviet rule. Drawing on many years of research, interviews with educators and officials, and visits to the region, Barbara Kellner-Heinkele and Jacob M. Landau explore the politics of language and its intersection with identity in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. With special attention to language education in schools and universities within each state and debates over bilingualism versus multilingualism, their insights offer researchers of politics, linguistics and Central Asian studies a comprehensive account of a highly politicised debate.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Jacob M. Landau
36 books4 followersJacob M. Landau was Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Landau was born on 20 March 1924 in Kishinev, Bessarabia, which he left in 1935, moving to Palestine with his parents, Miriam and Michael Landau. They settled in Tel Aviv, where he studied at the Herzliya Gymnasium, ending his school career in 1942. He took his B.A. and M.A. in 1942-1946 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in history and Arabic studies. His M.A. thesis researched the nationalist movement in modern Egypt. It was supervised by Professor Richard Michael Koebner. For his Ph.D. studies he went to the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. His Ph.D. dissertation there was on parliaments and parties in Egypt (published in book form in 1953). His supervisor was Professor Bernard Lewis.
Returning to Israel in 1949, he first taught history and the Arabic language at the Hebrew University’s experimental high school from 1949 to 1958, interrupting this to take up a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University with Professor H.A.R. Gibbs in 1955-1956. During that year he was also visiting lecturer in modern Middle East history at Brandeis University. In 1958 he joined the Hebrew University’s department of political science where he lectured until 1993 when he left as a full professor emeritus. During those years he also served as a part-time professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel, in addition to the Hebrew University. He also served as visiting professor at foreign universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Landau was born on 20 March 1924 in Kishinev, Bessarabia, which he left in 1935, moving to Palestine with his parents, Miriam and Michael Landau. They settled in Tel Aviv, where he studied at the Herzliya Gymnasium, ending his school career in 1942. He took his B.A. and M.A. in 1942-1946 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in history and Arabic studies. His M.A. thesis researched the nationalist movement in modern Egypt. It was supervised by Professor Richard Michael Koebner. For his Ph.D. studies he went to the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. His Ph.D. dissertation there was on parliaments and parties in Egypt (published in book form in 1953). His supervisor was Professor Bernard Lewis.
Returning to Israel in 1949, he first taught history and the Arabic language at the Hebrew University’s experimental high school from 1949 to 1958, interrupting this to take up a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University with Professor H.A.R. Gibbs in 1955-1956. During that year he was also visiting lecturer in modern Middle East history at Brandeis University. In 1958 he joined the Hebrew University’s department of political science where he lectured until 1993 when he left as a full professor emeritus. During those years he also served as a part-time professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel, in addition to the Hebrew University. He also served as visiting professor at foreign universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey.
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November 29, 2023
Insightful!
Language Politics in Contemporary Central Asia: National and Ethnic Identity and the Soviet Legacy by Jacob M. Landau and Barbara Kellner-Heinkele is an enlightening exploration of the intricate relationship between language, politics, and identity in Central Asia. This book expertly navigates the complex legacy of the Soviet Union and its impact on the linguistic landscape of the region.
Landau and Kellner-Heinkele's research is thorough and well-articulated, offering readers a deep dive into how language has been used as a tool for both unification and division in Central Asia. Their analysis covers a range of topics, from the Soviet language policies to the post-Soviet challenges and transformations within these countries. The book stands out for its clear analysis of how language policies have influenced national and ethnic identities, providing a nuanced understanding of the region's political and social dynamics.
The authors' expertise in the field is evident, and they present their arguments in a manner that is accessible to both scholars and those with a general interest in Central Asian studies or linguistic politics. Overall, this book is a valuable contribution to the study of post-Soviet Central Asia, offering insightful perspectives on the region's ongoing struggles with language and identity in the aftermath of Soviet rule.
Language Politics in Contemporary Central Asia: National and Ethnic Identity and the Soviet Legacy by Jacob M. Landau and Barbara Kellner-Heinkele is an enlightening exploration of the intricate relationship between language, politics, and identity in Central Asia. This book expertly navigates the complex legacy of the Soviet Union and its impact on the linguistic landscape of the region.
Landau and Kellner-Heinkele's research is thorough and well-articulated, offering readers a deep dive into how language has been used as a tool for both unification and division in Central Asia. Their analysis covers a range of topics, from the Soviet language policies to the post-Soviet challenges and transformations within these countries. The book stands out for its clear analysis of how language policies have influenced national and ethnic identities, providing a nuanced understanding of the region's political and social dynamics.
The authors' expertise in the field is evident, and they present their arguments in a manner that is accessible to both scholars and those with a general interest in Central Asian studies or linguistic politics. Overall, this book is a valuable contribution to the study of post-Soviet Central Asia, offering insightful perspectives on the region's ongoing struggles with language and identity in the aftermath of Soviet rule.
Displaying 1 of 1 review