Language, Elites, and the State: Nationalism in Puerto Rico and Quebec

by Amilcar A. Barreto

Overview

For decades the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico and the Canadian province of Quebec have been riveted by the politics of nationalism, the question of their final status, and the protection of their local languages. In the name of cultural defense, the legislatures in San Juan and Quebec City have passed several laws focusing on protecting the vernacular. Barreto explores these two cases and challenges some general preconceived notions about nationalist movements.

A common premise in ethnic conflict studies is that nationalism is caused by cultural traits, such as language or religion, or is a result of a region's subservient economic role vis-à-vis the country's core. However, Barreto contends that Puerto Rican and Québécois elites turbaned to nationalism in reaction to their social marginalization and economic suppression. Anglophone elites in the U.S. and Canada established a hegemonic order making English a requirement for social and economic ascendancy. Shunned by the country's dominant group on account of their language, elites in Puerto Rico and Quebec took up the banner of nationalism attempting to establish a counter-hegemonic order. Thus, nationalism, Barreto contends, is an unanticipated reaction to the exclusionary attitudes and policies of one group against another. This analysis is important to political scientists, social scientists, and researchers involved with nationalism, ethnic conflict, and Puerto Rican and Canadian studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275961831
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/28/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

AMÍLCAR A. BARRETO is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University. His articles have appeared in Homines and the Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Conflicting Approaches to the Study of Nationalism
Language and Elites
Language and American Identity
Canada and the King's English
The Evolution of Puerto Rican Identity and Nationalism
Quebec's Distinct Society and Nationalism
Defending Spanish in Puerto Rico's Territorial Government
The Quebec National Assembly and the Promotion of French
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Explores culturalist views of nationalism, hegemony, the relationship of language elitism to nationalism, language and the American identity, the evolution of Puerto Rican identity and nationalism, Quebec's distinct society and nationalism, the defense of the Spanish language in Puerto Rico's territorial government, and the Quebec National Assembly and the promotion of French. Focuses on the need for intelligent policy in Washington and Ottawa based on an understanding of the roots of nationalism on the linguistic periphery of the English speaking civilization in North America. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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