Among the markers of ethnonational identity, language and religion have figured with equal promin... more Among the markers of ethnonational identity, language and religion have figured with equal prominence. In many cases, religion has been the bedrock of nation-building; and even today, it is difficult to separate a number of national identities from their religious matrices. Religious identity is based on, and perpetuated in, narratives expressed in a specific language. Language and religion are related; in our secular age, however, that relationship is no longer consistent. The two may feed upon one another; language may substitute for religion; or religion may trump language. This article explores the varying relationships between language and religion.
In the scholarly analyses of the relationship between national governments and ethnic minorities,... more In the scholarly analyses of the relationship between national governments and ethnic minorities, China has rarely been investigated, at least by political scientists. Indeed, in some recent works on ethnopolitics, China is seldom, if at all, mentioned.1 To the extent that the ...
A central logic of the democratic peace theory claims that public opinion acts as a powerful rest... more A central logic of the democratic peace theory claims that public opinion acts as a powerful restraint against war. Democratic officials, unlike their autocratic counterparts, are wary of going to war because they expect to pay an electoral penalty for fighting even successful wars. Several ...
Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, 1999
1. In many instances, individuals who have established permanent residence abroad continue to vot... more 1. In many instances, individuals who have established permanent residence abroad continue to vote in national elections of their homelands. This has been the case, inter alia, of Portuguese and Algerians in France, Russians and Israelis in the United States, and ...
This article focuses on the relationship between the two major ethnoreligious communities – the J... more This article focuses on the relationship between the two major ethnoreligious communities – the Jews and the Muslims – and the state in France, as reflected in lobbying, electoral behaviour, and public policies. It shows how the evolution of that relationship, an aspect ...
ABSTRACT. This article analyzes the approaches of five democratic countries-France, the United St... more ABSTRACT. This article analyzes the approaches of five democratic countries-France, the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and Israel-to determining membership in the national community. It examines the different definitions of citizenship and the variable uses of ...
Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity, 2nd ed., 2010
Language is an important marker of individual and collective identity and the most essential tool... more Language is an important marker of individual and collective identity and the most essential tool for expressing thoughts and feelings. As such, it has played a role in the perpetuation of a community's culture, in social communication and mobilization, in nation-building, and in the quest for political independence.
The discussion of the place of language in politics has generally revolved around its relationshi... more The discussion of the place of language in politics has generally revolved around its relationship to nation-building and ethnic conflict. Yet, these are not always causally connected nor is language easily given up for the sake of a greater national or individual good. Attitudes regarding language can be influenced by anticolonialist resentments, memories of past injustice, status paranoia, xenophobia, collective megalomania, religion, ideology, and the desire on the part of a group to base its collective identity on a demarcation from a real or imagined enemy. This applies to many dimensions of language policies, including officialization, alphabetization, gentrification, and glossonym changes. We argue that governments choose language policies for strategic reasons. Whether it is to legitimize or subordinate a language or whether or not the policy is itself the objective, these choices may have unintended consequences.
Among the markers of ethnonational identity, language and religion have figured with equal promin... more Among the markers of ethnonational identity, language and religion have figured with equal prominence. In many cases, religion has been the bedrock of nation-building; and even today, it is difficult to separate a number of national identities from their religious matrices. Religious identity is based on, and perpetuated in, narratives expressed in a specific language. Language and religion are related; in our secular age, however, that relationship is no longer consistent. The two may feed upon one another; language may substitute for religion; or religion may trump language. This article explores the varying relationships between language and religion.
In the scholarly analyses of the relationship between national governments and ethnic minorities,... more In the scholarly analyses of the relationship between national governments and ethnic minorities, China has rarely been investigated, at least by political scientists. Indeed, in some recent works on ethnopolitics, China is seldom, if at all, mentioned.1 To the extent that the ...
A central logic of the democratic peace theory claims that public opinion acts as a powerful rest... more A central logic of the democratic peace theory claims that public opinion acts as a powerful restraint against war. Democratic officials, unlike their autocratic counterparts, are wary of going to war because they expect to pay an electoral penalty for fighting even successful wars. Several ...
Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, 1999
1. In many instances, individuals who have established permanent residence abroad continue to vot... more 1. In many instances, individuals who have established permanent residence abroad continue to vote in national elections of their homelands. This has been the case, inter alia, of Portuguese and Algerians in France, Russians and Israelis in the United States, and ...
This article focuses on the relationship between the two major ethnoreligious communities – the J... more This article focuses on the relationship between the two major ethnoreligious communities – the Jews and the Muslims – and the state in France, as reflected in lobbying, electoral behaviour, and public policies. It shows how the evolution of that relationship, an aspect ...
ABSTRACT. This article analyzes the approaches of five democratic countries-France, the United St... more ABSTRACT. This article analyzes the approaches of five democratic countries-France, the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and Israel-to determining membership in the national community. It examines the different definitions of citizenship and the variable uses of ...
Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity, 2nd ed., 2010
Language is an important marker of individual and collective identity and the most essential tool... more Language is an important marker of individual and collective identity and the most essential tool for expressing thoughts and feelings. As such, it has played a role in the perpetuation of a community's culture, in social communication and mobilization, in nation-building, and in the quest for political independence.
The discussion of the place of language in politics has generally revolved around its relationshi... more The discussion of the place of language in politics has generally revolved around its relationship to nation-building and ethnic conflict. Yet, these are not always causally connected nor is language easily given up for the sake of a greater national or individual good. Attitudes regarding language can be influenced by anticolonialist resentments, memories of past injustice, status paranoia, xenophobia, collective megalomania, religion, ideology, and the desire on the part of a group to base its collective identity on a demarcation from a real or imagined enemy. This applies to many dimensions of language policies, including officialization, alphabetization, gentrification, and glossonym changes. We argue that governments choose language policies for strategic reasons. Whether it is to legitimize or subordinate a language or whether or not the policy is itself the objective, these choices may have unintended consequences.
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Papers by William Safran