Language diversity, development, and state

The contribution analyzes essential assumptions by advocates of language diversity as well as by their critics, on the beleaguered subject of the relationship between language diversity and socioeconomic development. Advocates of the preservation of language (and cultural) diversity usually emphasize that language diversity is not inimical to the state and its integrity, and that fostering diversity does not jeopardize development. These statements are actually seldom, if ever, proved. A contrary view stresses that economically successful states are most often monolingual; although this may be historically correct, the logical connection between these states of affairs is not explained. The contribution, following and expanding on previous work by the author, argues that the link between these two positions lies in the ideology of the nation-state – including its contemporary democratic variety – which tends to impede, and often actively suppress, language diversity.